From Ben 14 July 2010 :

this is what's been going on for me lately... I hesitated to let this news out, but I am very proud of my dad.


Robert Donald Browder

1938-2010

Born November 1st, 1938 in Selmer Tennessee to Lorene and Homer Browder, Don was raised in the small McNairy county community of Lawton, surrounded by farms, woods, fields and the watchful eyes of his family.  With no electricity or running water at home, and with a deep desire to avoid picking cotton in the blazing west Tennessee sun, Don began playing three sports at school knowing that there at least he could get a shower. He never thought he was poor; money was tight for everyone around him, but he knew it would take more than just hard labor to conquer the challenges beyond his childhood home.

Salutatorian of his Adamsville High School class, tall, lean, and dark haired with piercing blue eyes, he excelled on the basketball court alongside his childhood friend and teammate Buford Pusser (of Walking Tall fame). Don lit up the scoreboard at the State Basketball tourney setting a single-game record of forty points. His exploits on the court and in the classroom led to a basketball scholarship at the University of Tennessee Martin. Later in his college career he transferred to Memphis State and played as a walk on. While at Memphis he met Joyce Klemp: a Delta Airlines stewardess from Kansas, and his eventual match. After paying tuition and not having enough money to eat, Don left school nine credit hours shy of his degree, and took to selling vacuum cleaners door to door. Don and Joyce married on the afternoon of October 2nd, 1959. That same evening Joyce was on a flight to Detroit and Don was off on a sales call.

Joyce had to leave her job because Delta stewardesses in those days were not allowed to be married, Don moved from door to door sales into selling insurance. Working first for Paul Revere, then later State Mutual, he and Joyce were moved thirteen times around the south over the next decade, giving birth to four boys in the process and finally settling to raise the family in Charlotte, North Carolina.

In 1973, Don was a founding partner of the Mark III Financial Group, which is still in operation today. Through Mark III Don met thousands of clients and friends. The company now operates across the southeast. A gifted salesman, Don eventually assumed full control of the business, and alongside Joyce ran the company for almost forty years, which he only now passes on to his sons.

Over thirty years in Charlotte, Don kept busy raising a family, building a business, serving the community, and running political campaigns for the likes of politicians, such as Charlotte Mayor John Belk (Chairman of Belk Department stores). When his boys had all graduated college, he created and owned the number 78 Mark III racing team in the NASCAR Busch/Nationwide series, driven by Jimmy Spencer, Dennis Setzer, Hank Parker Jr., Loy Allen Jr., and others.

In his time, Don rubbed shoulders with business and civic leaders.  He was deadly on a covey rise with a 12 gauge double barrel Stevens. Loved dogs. Hated cats. Danced with Joyce to soul music in Memphis. Broke both legs and one collarbone. Taught four city boys to hunt, fish, cut wood, buy low, sell high, respect their mother, and be generally fearless. He was a man who stood by his word and never backed down from a fight. He was quick to smile, laughed with ease and never met a bowl of ice cream he didn’t like.  Elvis met Don in 1956 and offered him a drink from his flask… Don said; “No thanks, I got a basketball game to play tomorrow.”

In 2002, Don and Joyce left the city for the cool, clean air above Shady Valley. In the hills of east Tennessee, a country boy came to his last home and community, only this time with running water, and indoor plumbing.

Don made his final stand against Leukemia, the one foe whom he couldn’t defeat or cut a deal with. He passed away on Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at the age of 71 years and is survived by his beautiful bride of 51 years, Joyce, four grateful sons Mark, Ben, Dan, and Neil, five grandchildren, his brother John, many, many friends and employees, and his extended family.

 

Memorials may be made to… Shady Valley Presbyterian Church, Shady Valley Volunteer Fire Department and Wellmont Hospice House in Bristol.

The Family would like to thank Dr. Richard Rolen, Dr. Joseph Moore of Duke Cancer Clinic, the Staff of Duke University Hospital, Dr. Sue Prill, and the Staff of Bristol Regional Medical Center.