Shelton “Eugene” Browning, 88, Lee’s Summit, died at his home June 5, 2010,
with many family members around him.
Eugene was born Aug. 12,
1921, in Holiday, Kan.He graduated from Lee’s SummitHigh School and attended the University of Missourifor one year. He started a “swing band” in high school, in which he played the
drums and his wife, Margaret, played the piano.
Music became a great part of their joint lives, as they
discovered that their eight children also had musical abilities; Eugene then
formed “The Browning Family Show” in which he and Margaret and all eight of
their children traveled and performed during the 1960’s and 1970’s throughout
the United States and Canada as a musical variety show. Eugene was always the driving force behind
the family show, managing the bookings, playing the drums, and determining what
musical numbers would be performed. Upon retirement, he and Margaret continued
to perform together at senior center dances in the Kansas City area.
Eugene was always an
entrepreneur, starting his own businesses, first as a hamburger shop
owner/operator, then a general hardware and clothing merchant and eventually
buying out general merchandise stores throughout the Midwest and running Eugene
Browning Mercantile in Lee’s Summit.
He also gave motivational and inspirational speeches in the area. He was
constantly sharing his philosophy on the importance of family life with
everyone he met. In every conversation, he would want to either teach someone
something or learn something from them. In his last years, he partnered with
his first-born daughter, Carol Ann Winburn, and finally finished their book,
“Remembering the Browning Family Show – A father’s legacy in photos and
philosophy” shortly after his wife’s death.
Eugenewas preceded in death by his parents, William L. and Mabel Browning; his
brother, William L. Browning, Jr.; and sister, Elizabeth Browning Adams. His
wife, Margaret, also preceded him in death Dec. 8, 2009.
Survivors include his eight children, Carol Ann Winburn, Butler, Nancy E. Blackwell, Lee’s
Summit, Mary Margaret Stockton, Riverton,Wyo., Linda J. Skarky, Oklahoma
City, Okla., Dr. Patricia L.
Breusing, Westminster, Colo.,
Barbara J. Bridges, Houston, Texas,
Eugene Browning, Jr., Huntsville, Texas, and Robert A. Browning, Kansas City. He also leaves a legacy of 12
grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
Memorial services will be at Langsford Funeral Home June 19
(Father’s Day weekend). Visitation will be at 9 a.m. and services will follow
at 10 a.m., with burial in Lee’s
SummitHistoricalCemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider
volunteering to spend a day visiting someone of any age, especially the
elderly, who needs help or encouragement or a reason to smile, or making a
donation for Eugene’s
book to be sent to someone needing inspiration. Details will be available at
the funeral home.
(Arrangements by: Langsford Funeral Home, 115 S.W. Third
St., Lee’s Summit, MO 64063; 816-524-3700)
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