Michael R. Browning Sr.

1946 - 2011

Michael Ray Browning Sr. was born Feb. 8, 1946, in Brusly, La., to Lily Mae and Leonard Browning Sr. He passed away July 12, 2011, in North Pole.
As the fourth of 10 children, Mike grew up self-assured and independent. He joined the U.S. Air Force in 1966 and was stationed in Texas where he met his wife Kay.  
An avid hunter and fisherman, Mike realized his lifelong dream of moving to Alaska in 1986 with his wife and three children. Mike was proud of his children and was a great father, but his greatest joy, was being a grandfather and he made sure everyone knew it. 
Mike was very social and never met a person he didn't like. He was generous without reservation; anything of his was yours which included, most importantly, his time and knowledge. 
He taught his extended family, friends and most recently his grandchildren, the beauty and responsibility of hunting, fishing and spending time in the woods.
Mike was happiest in the woods and after years of hunting out of public cabins, he built a camp on the west fork of the Chena River where he plans to spend eternity.
During hunting season, you could stop by Mike's camp any night and find him at the fire with a whiskey and Coke and a story. And if you were lucky, a bowl of whatever he had cooked that day.
He was Cajun and could cook old shoe leather and you would swear it was the best meal you ever tasted.
Mike loved a challenge. If there was a hill to climb, he climbed it, and the next one and the next one. The standing joke was if you were going into the woods with Mike, you better pack a lunch.
He loved to walk and never tired of pointing out trails he made and telling stories of his adventures on each mountain he scaled.
Mike could fabricate anything. If he could see it in his head he could build it, and his house, yard, cabin and boat are a living testament to the many feats of engineering he undertook.
Mike was so many things to so many people these words are inadequate. 
His many friends and family would like to invite all who have stories to tell and memories to share, to join us in a celebration of life at Mike's favorite stomping ground - The Badger Den - at 5 p.m. Saturday, July 23, This will be a potluck so bring your favorite dish and stories to share.
Mike is survived by his wife, Kay Browning; children, Mike Browning Jr., Philip and Amy Browning and Alicia and Larry Hopkins; five grandchildren; one great-grandson; brothers, Leonard Jr., Tommy, Jimmy and John; and sisters, Linda Browning, Dianne Robertson and Janet Cashiola.
May Mike rest in peace, he was a good man and we love him.
Arrangements were entrusted to Fairbanks Funeral Home.