Sally Browning

Sally was born in the coastal town of Corpus Christi Texas and died in Plano, TX from natural causes. She lived a very creative and artistic life that was full of love and kindness for everyone she encountered in life. Her creative talents began to be discovered at Pampa High School where she had written poetry that won an award and was even published. Shortly after graduating from high school, she met the love of her life Bill Browning and they were married on Christmas Eve 1956.  After being married for 6 years they wanted to enhance their lives with children and adopted 3 children David, Darin, and Shawna when they lived in El Paso. Sally was a consummate mother.  She loved children and always had a positive and supportive kindness for them all. While raising the kids her creative talents were truly developed.  She always scoured magazines and newspapers for new and interesting recipes. She was skilled in canning all sorts of fresh vegetables from their garden that she enjoyed working with her husband. She was a talented seamstress designing her own baby clothes, knitting sweaters, and even making bean bag toys for the kids. She also crocheted garments and doilies. She was very talented in all sorts of arts and crafts. She created various macramé projects and wonderful Christmas ornaments. She even applied her talents to floral design where she worked at a florist shop. Art painting is where she truly excelled. She had the unique ability to capture imaginative Texas and Southwest landscapes in oil and watercolor.  She created inspirational landscapes with bluebonnet fields, rustic farm life with barns and windmills, rugged ocean scenes, lovely floral arrangements, still life, and even captured cute animal and pet images.  She would often place scripture references on her paintings for inspiration and reflection.  Her talents were award winning receiving accolades from her local art group and won multiple blue ribbons from the State Fair of Texas.  

Sally has a unique heritage where she was named after her grandmother Sally Ann Aikman Keesee.  She has Cherokee Indian blood from her grandfather Fletcher Keesee who is ½ Cherokee and ½ French. Her fiery red hair and personality came from her mother Ora Graves and Aunt Lenora Simonton. Her deepest heritage is her Christian faith.  She was a strong prayer warrior and often prayed through the night.  She was on the prayer chain at her church Friendship Baptist Church. She was in the scriptures daily and would discover versus to add to her art. Her life reflected Christ with her loving kindness being spread to everyone she encountered with her often saying, “May God Bless You.”

She is preceded in death by her husband Billy Joe Browning, her parents, Otis and Ora Graves and nephew Jim Zolnai. She is survived by her children David Browning and his fiancé Jan Brobst, Darin Browning and his fiancé Arden Bailey, and Shawna Browning.  Sister Marion Lucille Ramsey; nephew Christopher Zolnai; great niece Jordon Zolnai, great nephew Vance Zolnai; great-great nieces, Jadeyn and Jinleigh.  Aunt Romana Fagan; Uncle Gayle. Special friend to the family, Danny and Virginia Cole of Abilene, TX.

A memorial service will be held at the Murray-Orwosky Funeral Home, 419 Gilmer St., Sulphur Springs, TX 75482 on 3/5/2021 at 1:00 pm.  The graveside service will be at 2:00 pm at Gafford Chapel cemetery next to the Gafford Chapel United Methodist Church, 6839 Texas Highway 11 W, Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. 

Flowers can be sent to the funeral home. Donations may be made in the name of Sally Browning to Friendship Baptist Church Mesquite, 820 Pioneer Rd, Mesquite, TX 75149, (http://www.friendshipmesquite.org/) or a charity of choice.