Douglas E Browning

Douglas E. Browning born May 18, 1944, a resident of Oakland, TN passed away peacefully at home on March 21, 2026. Doug grew up in the hills of West Virginia, where life was not always easy. After losing his father in 1958 at just 14 years old, he was raised by his grandmother, an experience that helped shape his strength and character. He attended Gilbert High School in Gilbert, WVA, where he was an outstanding athlete—an awesome basketball player and a favorite among his peers—earning Best All-Around Player honors in 1960 and competing in the State Basketball Championship. After graduating in 1962, he enlisted in the Navy and was stationed in Oceana, Virginia, where he served four years as a parachute rigger, packing parachutes and even jumping from planes using the equipment he prepared himself. He served aboard USS Enterprise and America, which traveled the world.

He later married the love of his life, Patricia Cline on December 30, 1963—though he always liked to say it was the 31st—and together they shared 62 wonderful years of marriage. A devoted husband and family man, he was also a hardworking professional as a Production Manager at Carrier Air Conditioning in Collierville, TN, for 31 years.

Doug’s favorite times of the year were during the Christmas holidays, when he enjoyed giving his family things he never had, and summers in Destin, Florida, where he took his family for over 20 years.

He is survived by his two daughters, Angela Snyder (Tim), a flight attendant, and Annette Williams (Kevin), an elementary school teacher, as well as six beloved grandchildren, Garrett Douglas Williams, Kyle Jode Snyder, Austin Allen Williams, Jordan Gail Snyder, Presley Grace Williams and Brody Watson Williams. He was preceded in death by two brothers and is survived by one brother and one sister. He had a deep love for his family, especially his grandchildren and his home state of West Virginia.

A Memorial Service for Mr. Browning will be at 3 Monday afternoon at Peebles West Funeral Chapel at Oakland with a private interment. A visitation will be from 2 to 3 Monday afternoon at Peebles West Funeral Chapel at Oakland.

Lovingly written by the family to honor a life well lived.