Gordon D. Browning's Obituary
GORDON D. BROWNING WAS BORN IN DALLAS, TEXAS ON APRIL 28, 1935 TO GORDON AND MAXELL BROWNING. GORDON’S PARENTS MOVED HIM TO SAN ANTONIO IN 1943 FOR THE DURATION OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR. THE FAMILY MOVED BACK TO DALLAS IN 1946 WHERE HE ATTENDED GRADE SCHOOL, JUNIOR HIGH AND TWO YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOL AT WOODROW WILSON HIGH SCHOOL. HE THEN MOVED TO ODESSA WHERE HE GRADUATED FROM ODESSA HIGH SCHOOL AND ATTENDED ODESSA JUNIOR COLLEGE. HE PLAYED ON ODESSA JUNIOR COLLEGE’S FIRST BASKETBALL TEAM.
AFTER WORKING IN THE OIL FIELD SUPPLY BUSINESS IN ODESSA, SNYDER AND KERMIT, TEXAS AND HOBBS AND ROSWELL, N.M. HE RETURNED TO DALLAS IN THE MID 60’S. AFTER WORKING FOR CENTENNIAL HOMES AS SALES MANAGER HE STARTED HIS OWN HOME BUILDING COMPANY IN 1969, BROWNING HOMES, AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER BECAME ONE OF THE LARGEST HOMEBUILDERS IN THE DALLAS AREA, BUILDING OVER 3500 SINGLE FAMILY HOMES. WITH A REPUTATION FOR BUILDING QUALITY HOMES HE DEVELOPED MOSS FARM IN DALLAS IN 1974 WHICH WAS ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL SINGLE FAMILY PROJECTS OF THAT ERA. HE ENTERED THE MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL BUSINESS IN 1980 AND FORMED BROWNING PROPERTIES, AS AN APARTMENT DEVELOPER. AS AN APARTMENT BUILDER, HE BUILT OVER 10,000 APARTMENT UNITS OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS IN TEXAS, ARIZONA AND FLORIDA. DURING THIS PERIOD HE BECAME THE 10TH LARGEST APARTMENT DEVELOPER IN THE COUNTRY.
AFTER TRYING RETIREMENT FOR A WHILE HE TOLD HIS FRIENDS HE JUST WASN’T ANY GOOD AS A RETIRED PERSON, SO HE USED THE BROKER LICENSE HE HAD SINCE 1965 AND BECAME A LAND BROKER IN 2002. HE WORKED AS A RESIDENTIAL LAND BROKER IN THE DFW AREA UNTIL HE PASSED AT THE AGE OF 85 YEARS OLD. GORDON ENJOYED HIS DAILY CONTACT WITH THE HOME AND APARTMENT BUILDING COMMUNITY.
GORDON IS PRECEDED IN DEATH BY HIS PARENTS. HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS LOVING WIFE BEVERLY BROWNING; HIS THREE SONS RICK BROWNING, STEVE (AMY) BROWNING AND TYSON (ESTEE) BROWNING; STEP-SONS ROB (D'RAYE) MOW AND BRETT (ELIZABETH) MOW; STEP-DAUGHTERS BRYNN MOW AND BECKY MOW BOOTH; GRANDCHILDREN STEPHEN (TAYLOR) BROWNING, BRYCE BROWNING, AMBER BROWNING, TYLER MOW, GRACIE UNLAND, MITCHELL BOOTH, AND ANDREW, VICTORIA AND BENNETT MOW; GREAT GRANDCHILDREN ADAM, CODY AND WADE BROWNING.
VISITATION WILL BE TUESDAY OCTOBER 20 AT 1 PM AND FUNERAL SERVICE AT 2 PM AT RESTLAND FUNERAL HOME (LINK TO VIEWING SERVICE ONLINE WILL BE PROVIDED ON RESTLAND’S WEBSITE). FACE MASKS ARE REQUIRED, AND THERE IS ROOM FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING AT THE SERVICE. BURIAL WILL IMMEDIATELY FOLLOW SERVICE.
IN LIEU OF FLOWERS PLEASE MAKE DONATIONS TO THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION.
Those that may not be able to attend the service can attend virtually using the attached link: http://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/38763
What’s your fondest memory of Gordon?
What’s a lesson you learned from Gordon?
Share a story where Gordon's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Gordon you’ll never forget.
How did Gordon make you smile?