William Browne

William Pontious Browne, 62, of Cape Girardeau died unexpectedly Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022, while vacationing in Cozumel, Mexico.

Will was born April 11, 1959, in Norfolk, Virginia, to John Latty and Billie Elizabeth Moore Browne, the fourth of five children.

The son of a Marine Corps aviator, he spent his early years moving frequently. He attended grade school in Coronado, California, before relocating to northern Missouri after his father's retirement from service in 1971. He graduated from Green City (Missouri) High School in 1977 and attended the University of Missouri-Columbia, where he was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho. He graduated from the College of Agriculture with a bachelor's degree in agricultural economics in 1982.

Will and Nancy Lee Hatley were married Aug. 8, 1981, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in New Madrid, Missouri.

He spent his career in flooring sales and technical support, working the last seven years as a regional manager for the central states region for Basic Coatings, a division of Betco Corp.

He was a lifetime member of the Mizzou Alumni Association and a passionate Mizzou football and basketball fan. He enjoyed renovating/remodeling houses and did everything from plumbing and electrical to laying tile and hardwood floors. He loved spending weekends boating at Kentucky Lake, but his favorite hobby was scuba diving and underwater photography while diving.

Will is survived by his wife, Nancy, and three sons, William Browne Jr. of Crested Butte, Colorado, and Conrad Browne and Parker Browne of Columbia; a brother, John L. (Deb) Browne III of Cape Girardeau; two sisters; seven nieces and nephews; and eight great-nieces and -nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. March 25 at Ford and Sons Funeral Home on Mount Auburn in Cape Girardeau.

A memorial service/celebration of life will be at 10 a.m. March 26 at the funeral home.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Will's name to American Heart Association, Coral Reef Alliance or Mizzou Alumni Association Heartland Chapter Scholarship Fund.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.