Notes:

Obituary:

Rayne lost another of its loved 'senior citizens' this past week when death claimed Miss Mary Ella McBride, 84, member of one of Rayne's first families who dated back to the days of Poupeville, Miss McBride passing away at the Rayne Guest Home on Friday at 11:30 a.m. after a long illness.

Funeral services were held Saturday morning at 9 a.m. from St. Joseph Catholic Church, with Rev. Emery Labbe officiating. Interment followed in the family plot in the old St. Joseph Cemetery with Gossen Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Pallbearers were Sidney McBride, Warren McBride, Harold Leleux, Jr., Harold Leleux, Sr., Tony Privat and Edwin "Butch" Ousse.

Miss McBride was a native of Rayne and a lifelong resident here. She was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Walter Scott McBride, her mother being the former Aurelia Perres, and member of one of the pioneer families in this area. Mr. and Mrs. McBride resided in Poupeville, and were among the settlers of that section who moved with the entire Poupeville community up to the railroad tracks in the 1880's when the settlement of Poupeville was renamed to Rayne.

She was educated in local schools and later joined her brother, the late Walter J. McBride in the operation of what was originally McBride's Confectionery, then later became McBride's Drug Store. She was an important part of this business firm, and served the public faithfully over a long span of years, assisting her brother, and, in her quiet, sweet manner, making many friends for the drug store. For some time, this was also the offices for the Greyhound Bus lines and she handled the ticket office operation. She remained with the firm until Walter's retirement, when she also retired and devoted the remainder of her days to enjoying members of her family and her many friends.

She had been in ill heath for some time, and had been a resident at the Guest Home for several years where she was a loved part of the group of friends there.

"Miss Ella" will always be remembered fondly by her family and by the many friends of long standing who were intimate as only friends from childhood on can remain. She was an interesting part of Rayne's earlier business life, and she contributed much, along with her brother in providing one of Rayne's well known business establishments, located next to today's Gene's Shoe Store. Much of the original McBride's building was torn down in recent years to make way for the present Rayne State Bank parking area.

Her brothers and sisters have all preceded her in death, and she is survived only by numerous nieces and nephews who were very dear to her. Among these are Tony Privat, Warren McBride, Sidney McBride, Edward McBride of Maryland, Harold McBride of Germany, Glenn McBride of Brownsville, Texas, Tom and Joe McBride of Lake Charles, Mrs Edwin Ousse, Mrs. Dan LeLeux and Mrs. A.E. Raymond, Jr. all of Rayne, Mrs. Harold LeLeux of Estherwood, Mrs. Gabe Alandin of Connecticut and Mrs. Howard Duran of Lake Charles.

(Published in The Rayne Acadian Tribune on June 18, 1970)