NEW SHARON – Ernest Ray Browning, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather passed peacefully surrounded by his loved ones in his home in New Sharon this past Christmas Eve, Dec. 24. Those of us who had the opportunity to know and love him, thank the Lord for bringing him into our lives.

Ray was born on March 12, 1922, in Earling, W.Va. Upon turning 17 in 1940, he joined the Navy. He was in the service of our country for more than 12 years – taking part in not only World War II, but the Korean Conflict as well.

He met Jayne Hammonds in 1944, and the two were married on April 21, 1945.

He spent most of his adult life as an auto body mechanic for Morton Motors in Farmington. Later he ran his own business in New Sharon for nearly 10 years. In his retirement, he split his time between Dade City, Fla., and his beloved New Sharon.

He enjoyed fly fishing, watching baseball, gardening, attending the New Sharon United Methodist Church, and most of all taking pleasure in his family.

He is survived by his wife, Jayne; his mother-in-law, Velma Pearson; his daughter, Sherry and her husband, Robert Ames, and their two daughters, Melissa Ames and Rebecca Baharian; his son, Timothy, and his two children, Jana Browning Harriman, and Michael Browning; his youngest daughter, Karen and her husband, Bill Dove, and her two children, Derek Chandler and Meredith Lundamo; he was also blessed with seven great-grandchildren; as one of 17 siblings, he is survived by four sisters.