Mrs. Helen Inez Browning

Helen Inez (Garvin) Browning, 98, was born in Mineral Wells, TX on May 24,1922 and passed away on December 5, 2020. She was born to Van Buren and Sybil (Harris) Garvin, the 5th of 8 children with 3 sisters - Gladys, Juanita and Myrl -and 4 brothers - Doc, Ollie, Bud and Henry. Helen will be missed by her daughter Sandra Keahey and J.R. of Kemp, son, James (Buddy) Browning of Paris, grandchildren Danny Craft and Tonya of Melissa, Suzan Johnson and Leon of Kemp, Eric Keahey and Christie of Kemp, great-grandchildren: Dana Jones and Fred of Bridgeport, Dona Hardin and Josh of Decatur, Cara Smith and Justin of Rockwall, Tana Hartman and Brett of Melissa, Cody Johnson and Kaci of Corinth, great-great grandchildren: Brody, Brac, Bowen, Stran, Scout, Hudson, Sawyer, Levi, Quinlee and a new baby girl due in February. "Aunt Helen" will also be missed by numerous nieces and nephews from South Carolina to California as well as many beloved friends. Helen's early years were spent on the family farm tending to their garden, caring for livestock And "pulling" cotton. Helen always said they "had more fun than anybody" riding horses, swimming in the river and having square dance parties in their home. It was at one of these dance parties that she met her husband, J.W. Browning. Their first date was spent dancing at the Roof Garden atop the Baker Hotel. It would be their only date. They were married days later on February 17, 1941. Shortly after their wedding, they moved to J.W.'s hometown of Melissa, TX where their children, Sandra and Buddy were born. Within the year, the U.S. would be drawn into World War II - with the bombing of Pearl Harbor the day after Sandra was born. Helen spent the war years working at Duke and Ayers and later picked cotton, worked as a telephone operator, worked at the post office, Texas Instruments and ran the water department. She and J.W. would travel to California, Tennessee, Alabama, Nevada, and a variety of Texas towns for work, but Melissa remained their home. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Melissa for 79 years where she welcomed members each Sunday with her big smile. She loved singing and sang in the church choir. In the 1970's she prepared Christmas food baskets when she became aware of local families in need. This grew into First Melissa's annual Christmas Angel program that continues today. Helen, who loved children, spent her life enriching the lives of all who knew her. She taught generations of children in Sunday School and Vacation Bible School and was known to have her station wagon loaded with kids going to the races or to Six Flags -where she would ride every ride because she was the biggest kid of them all! She played baseball with her grand kids well into her 80's and 90's. She was a PTA president, Den mother for Boy Scouts, started the Pioneer Club, helped start the Melissa Library, supported new businesses in Melissa, helped the Melissa Christian Church make crafts that funded scholarships for Melissa graduates, and was often seen at Melissa sporting events cheering for her Cardinals and eating hotdogs with jalapenos. Her dedication to the town, schools and people she loved earned her the title of '"Ms. Melissa" as well as numerous honors and awards. She did all that she could to see that Melissa and its people prospered and thrived. Wearing her Melissa Cardinals tee shirts, this tiny white-haired lady was easily recognized wherever she went and was greeted by everyone who knew her and those who noticed that she was special. Today Helen would bite her tongue, pat you on the back and tell you "Always have a smile on your face. Be happy." That is the way she will be remembered by all who knew her... smiling and happy. Donations/memorials can be made to First Melissa Church, 2101 E Melissa Rd, Melissa, TX 75454. The family has requested at the time of the pass-by and condolences please skip the hugs, hand-shakes. this time.