Mary Browning

OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. -- Mary Browning, 82, of Olive Branch died Monday, April 4, 2011, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

She was born Dec. 20, 1928, in Olive Branch, daughter of Arlie and Eva Gettings Browning.

Browning was a telephone operator 35 years, starting in 1951 in a one-room telephone office in Olive Branch, then working in Cairo, Ill., Cape Girardeau and Ferguson, Mo., where she retired in 1986. She was a member of Olive Branch Methodist Church.

Survivors include a brother, Clearn Browning of Olive Branch; a sister-in-law, Rita Browning of Olive Branch; 31 nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; five brothers, Delorian, Russell, Enos, Ernest and Maurice Browning; a sister, Zelma Caldwell; two nephews and a niece.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Crain Funeral Home in Tamms, Ill.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Brent Gordon officiating.

Interment will be in Rose Hill Cemetery at Thebes, Ill.

To leave online condolences visit www.crainsonline.com.