Leonard Neil Browning

Priest River, Newport

Leonard Neil Browning passed peacefully from this life on Thursday, October 19, 2023, at the age of 82. He died from cancer. He was born in Emmett, Idaho, on February 8, 1941, the son of Glen Browning and June Walker Browning. He was the oldest of two brothers (Larry and Richard), 1 sister (Charlotte Matos), 1 maternal 1⁄2 brother (Robert Howell), 1 maternal 1⁄2 sister (Melba Baker), 1 paternal 1⁄2 brother (John), and 1 paternal 1⁄2 sister (Judy). Leonard has 12 grandchildren, and 9 great grandchildren with one on the way.

As a youth, he lived in various places throughout Idaho and Montana. He spent several of his early years earning his board and room on a dairy farm in Fort Benton, Montana, where around the age of 12 he assisted with the milking of 40 cows, and independently plowed, disked, harrowed, seeded, harvested, and sacked grain for the cows. When he was 15, he and his brother, Larry, moved to Priest River where he attended Priest River High School. He told his stepdad, Bill Howell, that he wanted to learn how to be a logger. Bill pointed to the chain saw and said, "There it is, go for it!" From then on, there was no stopping him. He always worked hard, he traveled around the Pacific Northwest, sometimes by hopping freights, or rode his motorcycle. He rode bulls and broncos in the rodeo, drove taxi in Wallace, Idaho, and logged.

He met and married his first wife, Georgia Walton (deceased) on December 9, 1960. They had two children together - Billy and Glenda (both deceased). He married his second wife, Jeanette Lee Brister, on August 6, 1973 in Benewah County, Idaho. Following their separation, he fathered Farrah Jean Brandy Browning, who was born in St. Maries, Idaho. He married his third wife, Angela Sexton Browning, in St. Maries, Idaho in 1978, and they had 2 girls, Amanda and Kristy. In 1994 he met Bobbie Drake. They joined together and remained together until he died.

Throughout his life he had a special affinity for animals, especially dogs, and they returned his love. He loved all things outdoors, often logging in the woods, camping or living in a trailer with his family, fishing and hunting for food. Besides his mastery of the skills necessary to harvest trees, he worked as a millwright, yarder operator, road builder, CAT skinner, diesel mechanic, welder. He purchased and operated a used car auto repair service station in Worley, Idaho that he named "Doc Browning's Little Car Clinic. He owned and operated an auto repair shop in Spirit Lake, Idaho. He drove big rigs across the U.S. But his first love was always logging.

He formed a non-profit association, the C.A.C. or Citizens Against Corruption - a group of people who pool their resources and learn together to navigate the justice system in an attempt to promote honesty, justice and integrity in our government and legal system.

He was preceded in death by his mother, whom he loved and respected dearly, and was anxious to join in the hereafter.

A graveside service will be held at the Priest River Evergreen Cemetery on November 2, 2023 at 11:00 a.m., and from there all of those who are interested and wish to participate are invited to join in a Celebration of Life at Positively Fourth Street, 759 St., Priest River, Idaho, which is just a couple of blocks from the cemetery. Please join us.

Sherman-Campbell Funeral Home in Newport WA is in charge of arrangements. Family and friends are welcome to visit their website at www.shermancampbell.com