John Browning

John E. Browning

Age 64 of Coal City, passed away unexpectedly Wednesday April 15, 2015 at Morris Hospital.

Born April 15, 1951 in Queens, New York, John Edward is a son of Mona Laura (McAfee) Browning of New Albany, Indiana and the late H. Lee Browning. He was a graduate of Westport High School in Louisville, Kentucky and went on to honorably serve in the United States Navy from 1970 to 1978. On May 15, 1970 John married Elizabeth "Sherfy" McConnell in Richmond, Kentucky. John was an active member of Phelan Acres Bible Church, where he served as a Deacon, taught Sunday School and was a song leader. He sat on the board for Cup of Cold Water Ministry and was a former board member with Christian Aids Outreach Ministries. John retired from Exelon Nuclear, Braidwood Station, where he was a nuclear instructor, and returned as a consultant and instructor at the Braidwood Training Center. John enjoyed biking and traveling, and was a designer for video game scenarios. Throughout the Coal City School District, John was fondly referred to as "Mr. Sherfy", and worked as a back stage crew member for the high school and middle school musicals. Most recently, John was the operator of the flying system for the production of Beauty and the Beast at Coal City High School.

Survivors include his wife and best friend Sherfy; one son Christopher (Magali) Browning of Alabama; four grandchildren: Adrian Sherfy, Nicholas John, Benjamin Lee and Antonio William; his mother Mona of New Albany, Indiana; two brothers: Thomas (Annette) Browning of Crestwood, Kentucky and Matthew Lee Browning of Louisville, Kentucky; one sister Laura (Harvey) Webb of North Carolina; brothers and sisters-in-law: Katherine Crenshaw of Owenton, Kentucky, Linda (Vernon) O'Dell of Cherokee, North Carolina and William T. (Nancy) McConnell of Memphis, Tennessee, and numerous nieces and nephews.

John was preceded in death by his father H. Lee Browning (1996); brother-in-law Robert McConnell and his father and mother-in-law: William T. and June (Redding) McConnell.

Visitation and video tribute will be held on Sunday, April 19, 2015 from 2:00 p.m. until time of funeral service 6:00 p.m. at Baskerville Funeral Home, 700 East Kahler Road in Wilmington. Pastor Rodney Chappell will officiate.

Additional visitation will be held at Prewitt Funeral Home, 425 North Main Street in New Castle, Kentucky on Tuesday, April 21, 2015 between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will follow Wednesday April 22nd at 11:00 a.m. in the funeral home. Burial will be in Smithfield Cemetery in Smithfield, Kentucky.

Preferred memorials may be made as gifts in John's memory to Cup of Cold Water Ministry, 2580 N. 3653rd Road, Sheridan, Illinois 60551 or to the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org).

Family and friends may sign the guest book or visit John's memorial page by logging onto: www.BaskervilleFuneral.com

Funeral services and arrangements have been made under the direction and care of Baskerville Funeral Home in Wilmington. (815-476-2181)