He was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Margaret Payne Browder; his parents, Edgar J. and Mabel Cole Browder; one sister, Audrey B. Grubb; and one brother, Kyle Browder.
Raymond leaves behind a daughter, Kim Quillen and husband, Jerry; one son, Chris Browder and wife Melissa; two brothers, Norman Browder (Jean), Wayne Browder (Cookie); one sister, Kaye Malone (Rick). He will be missed by four grandchildren whom he loved dearly, Jason Anderson, Ryan Quillen, Madison and Mackenzie Browder; plus, two great-grandchildren, Layla and Leanne (Lovey) Neal; several nieces and nephews.
Heartfelt appreciation goes to his caring neighbors, Barbara Durham, Judy Miller, Lois Hood and Willis and Betty Wagner.
Many will miss Raymond’s generosity, his servant’s heart, his ability to help people find their niche in life and his special way of making even the heaviest of hearts crack a smile!
Raymond worked for several businesses in Sullivan County: Cut Rate Supermarket (15 yrs. old); Bahnson Construction, welder (16 yrs. old); Robert & Johnson Lumber Co. (1952-1960); Gibbons Lumber Co., manager (1960-1975); Sequoia Supply, Salesman (1975); East Tennessee Structures, manager (1975-1986); Southern Building Systems, manager (1987-1995); Posteel Buildings, manager (1995-2005).
Raymond volunteered in numerous roles in Sullivan County: Sullivan County Rescue Squad (1970-1979); Tri-City Airport Patrol Safety Commission (1974-1979); Charter member of Kingsport Optimist; Kingsport Chamber of Commerce; Indian Springs Little League basketball and football coach; St. Paul United Methodist’s softball coach (10 yrs.); St. Paul United Methodist Board of Directors, Chairman; Eagle Pointe Condo Association, President (2002-2018).
The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday (August 8, 2018) at East Lawn Funeral Home. Funeral services will follow at 7 p.m. in the chapel of East Lawn Funeral Home with Bro. Dale Vaughn officiating.
Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday (August 9, 2018) at East Lawn Memorial Park in the Christus Garden. Family and friends are asked to meet at the graveside.
In lieu of flowers, the family request that in the next coming days you touch someone with a random act of kindness, give a word of wisdom or simply tell a joke. Please send a description of your actions to Kim Quillen & Chris Browder at 5805 Seneca Rd Kingsport, TN 37664. We will cherish each one. Online condolences may be made to the Browder family at www.eastlawnkingsport.com. East Lawn Funeral Home and Memorial Park has the honor of serving the Browder family.
