Clearn Wesley Browning

Clearn Wesley Browning, 89, of Olive Branch died at 7:50 am Monday, May 11, 2015 at the Illinois Veterans Home in Anna. Clearn Wesley Browning was born May 31, 1925 in Alexander County near Olive Branch, IL, son of Arlie & Eva Gettings-Browning. He married Margaret Foster December 19, 1945 and out of that union 4 children survive, Carolyn (Dick) Messner of Springfield, MO, Glen Browning of Russellville, KY, Cheryl Heady of Olive Branch, IL and Dennis (Donal) Browning of Cape Girardeau, MO; 7 Grandchildren survive, April (Freddie) Lacey, Mandy (Bryce) Winder, Joshua (Tara) Browning, Haley (Ben) Jayne, Tori (Jason) Moore, Sherri (Charlie) Tuttle and Karen Messner; 9 Great-Grandchildren, Ashley (Nathan) Thomasson, Alexandria and MacKenzie Lacey, Malley and Adien Jayne, Alexis Moore, Gentry, Payton and Weston Tuttle; lots of nieces, nephews and many other relatives. Clearn owned and operated Browning TV & Electrical Service in Olive Branch for 45 years. He drove a school bus for the Olive Branch School District and Egyptian School District for 48 years. He was the tenor singer and manager for the Browning Quartet and they traveled with some of the best gospel music quartets during the late 40’s and 50’s. He attended Trinity Assembly of God church in Olive Branch. He was a World War II veteran in the 1st Calvary, 12th Division serving as a combat radio operator in New Guinea, Admiralty Islands and the Philippines. He was with the first Occupational forces in Japan. He was wounded and received a Purple Heart, Bronze Star plus other medals. He was on the deck of an adjacent ship where he witnessed the surrender of Japan and the signing of the surrender treaty. He was proud of his country and was honored to have served. He has spent the last few years in the Illinois Veterans Home in Anna where he received excellent care treating him as one of their family. He was preceded in death by wife Margaret Foster Browning, January 25, 1976, Parents, a grandson, Brent Heady on January 25, 1993; son-in-law, Billy Don Heady; daughter-in-law, Kathy Browning; brothers, Deloren, Russell, Ernest, Enos and Maurice Browning; sisters, Zelma Caldwell and Mary Browning. Visitation for Clearn Browning will be Wednesday, May 13, 2015 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Crain Funeral Home in Tamms. Funeral services will be at 11:00 am Thursday, May 14, 2015 at the funeral home with Rev. Dick Messner and Rev. Steve Clardy officiating. Interment will follow at Olive Branch Cemetery with military honors by area veterans and the Illinois National Guard.

Clearn Wesley Browning

May 31, 1925 - May 11, 2015