Sybil Brown

Sybil Luther Browning Brown, long-time resident of Rankin, passed away April 13, 2015 at the age of 91 in Lubbock, Texas. She was born Sybil Geneva Luther in Barnhart, Texas on March 22, 1924 to C.C. and Vera Luther. She is preceded in death by her parents; two husbands, Bert R. Browning and Preston V. Brown; one son Robert Browning; one step daughter, Phyllis Stephens; three sisters, Myrle Brown, Mertis Evans and Pauline Barbee. She is survived by three children: Richard Browning and wife Patricia, of Wolfforth, Texas; Lou Browning Bloxom and husband Tom of Rankin, Texas; Roy Browning and wife Karina of Wasilla, Alaska; two step children: Don Brown of Lubbock, Texas and Dana Hopkins and husband Jim of Richardson, TX.; one sister, Florence Hoshall of Marietta, Georgia. She was the loving “Granny” to nine grandchildren: (Shayne Browning Tatum, Cole Browning, Cindy Browning Ben –Saadon, Sha Bloxom Thomas, Chase Browning, Wade Browning, Emily Salinas, Marina Salinas and Madison Salinas), seven great-grand children and numerous nieces and nephews.
Sybil graduated from Ozona High School in 1943 and worked at the post office until moving to San Angelo to attend business college. After graduating, she married her first husband, Bert Browning, on December 19th, 1942 in Sabinal, Texas. They moved to Hondo, TX and worked at the Air Base there for the remainder of WWII. After the war, they followed the oil field throughout Texas and New Mexico, finally settling in Rankin to manage the Rankin Ice House for her father. She also worked a the Rankin Post Office, Abstract Office and retired from the Upton County Clerk’s Office in 1986 where she served as Deputy Chief County Clerk for 20 years. After Bert passed away she married the second love of her life, P.V. Brown in 1979. They danced through 23 wonderful years together before his death on July 30th, 2003.
Sybil loved to plan parties, often writing and illustrating all the invitations as well as baking and decorating the cake. She had a wonderful talent for writing prose and poetry and could draw or paint whatever the occasion warranted. These talents were put to good use in special fund raisers and activities for the community, especially for Berta Sigma Phi Sorority where she held various offices and was an active member for over 30 years.
She loved music, dancing, cooking, traveling, crossword puzzles but most of all her family and friends. We will miss her attention to detail, cream gravy, banana pudding and her willing ear. She was intelligent, loving, kind, tolerant, and generous to a fault. She was the matriarch of our family and will be missed more than words can express.
We would like to extend our special thanks to Mary and David Caballero, Sarah and Juanita at Mary’s Mission; Petie and Brent Lowrey; Dr. Brown, Darla and all those compassionate caregivers at Hospice of Lubbock. You will always hold a special place in our hearts.
Family visitation will be held Thursday, April 16th from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at Shaffer-Nichols Funeral Home in Crane, Texas.
Funeral Services will be held at 2:00pm, Friday, April 17th, 2015 at First United Methodist Church in Rankin, Texas. Burial Service will immediately follow at the Rankin Cemetery.
Pallbearers: Danny Michum, Ricky Kelly, Tim Tatum, Jim Hopkins, Craig Thomas, Bradley Bains
Donations may be made to: Mary’s Mission, 4615 28th Street, Lubbock, Texas 79410 and Hospice of Lubbock, 3702 21st Street, Lubbock, Texas 79420.
A guestbook is available to share your condolences with the family at www.shaffer-nichols.com.