Raymond Browning
Jan. 8, 1932 – Jan. 8, 1932
Raymond Thomas (Tom) Browning, 94, of Sweet Home, passed away Feb. 19, 2026, at Wiley Creek Senior Living community, where he lived with his wife Shirley.
Tom was born Jan. 8, 1932 in Jetmore, Kan., and was the third of five children born to Francis Leslie and LaVerne Bell Browning (Swisher).
Tom grew up on a farm and loved horses. After serving in the Army for 2½ years, he pursued a career in sales and ended up working for Reece Corporation as a sales and service representative for 35 years.
Reece sold industrial sewing machines to factories with machines specializing in buttonholes, pockets, zippers – assembly line work. Tom both sold and serviced the machines which required him to travel throughout his career with his family.
Tom and Shirley Lou (McCollough) were wed in Kansas City, Mo., on May 13, 1956. They had three children.
While raising their family, they lived in Kansas City, Kan.; Kansas City, Mo.; Dallas, Texas; New Hope, Minn., and Spencerport, N.Y., where all their children graduated from high school.
As the kids moved out and started their own lives and families, Tom and Shirley moved on to live in Glen Ellyn, Ill.; then to Anaheim, Calif. (where Tom retired from Reece Corporation) and then to their final retirement home in Sweet Home.
They sold their home in Sweet Home in October 2025 and moved to Wiley Creek, residing in a two-bedroom bungalow as their big house became too much to maintain.
Tom remodeled their homes in Minnesota, New York and California. In Oregon, their home had a large woodworking shop, where Tom enjoyed making crafts for family and friends and furniture as requested by the family. He made some beautiful walking sticks as well.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents and all his brothers, Francis Glen, Charles Eugene, and Endell LaVerne, and sister Jacqueline Marilee Browning(Schmidt).
He is survived by his wife, Shirley, and their three children: Nancy Berry (Browning) of Las Vegas and husband Stewart Marolf; Mark David Browning of Florida and wife Roberta; and Pamela Browning Purtell of Washington. He is survived by six grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, with one in the oven.
Tom and Shirley were always active in the Baptist churches wherever they lived and raised their kids in the church as well. They love their church family at Freedom Hill church in Sweet Home and have been active members there for many years. They have also been active members of The Gideons International and they helped raise funds for Bible distributions. Tom loved witnessing an handing out samples.
Tom gave many a speech on behalf of the Gideons in many churches in Oregon to raise funds for Bibles. He loved God and shared his Word with all who would listen, winning many to Christ. He was well-liked and personable. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
He enjoyed horseback riding, carpentry, woodworking, golfing, fishing, church, Bible studies, sewing, billiards and puzzles. He even did some square dancing for a short time while in Texas with Shirley.
A celebration of life will be held on April 4, 2026, at 11 a.m. at Freedom Hill Church in Sweet Home. Potluck luncheon will follow.