A Memorial Service for Lewis Eugene Browder, 83 year old Leonard resident, is scheduled for 2:00 P.M. Saturday December 5, 2015 at the Leonard Church of Christ. There will be a time for visiting and light food at the home of Lewis’ daughter, Judy Shaw, after the memorial service and everyone is invited to come and join in this special time with Lewis’ family and friends.
Lewis was born January 29, 1932 in Harmon County, Oklahoma. His parents were Benjamin Carroll and Fannie Ethel Overall Browder. Lewis grew up on a farm in Harmon County, Oklahoma, the epicenter of the Dust Bowl, and had many interesting stories of that life. His parents were proud to send their youngest to college: Cameron University, Oklahoma State and then Kansas State where he earned his PhD. Lewis was passionate about serving others by helping them grow more wheat. He travelled to China, Egypt, and Eastern Europe helping researchers there, and was among the first to computerize wheat disease research.
Lewis was also passionate about serving others in any other ways he could, from preaching in rural churches, to visiting friends in nursing homes, to baking muffins for everyone he knew. He married Zada Lea Thompson December 19, 1954. Lewis and Zada lived in Manhattan, Kansas from 1958 to 2012, when they moved to Leonard, Texas. He served as a deacon in the Manhattan, Kansas Church of Christ and was currently a member of the Leonard Church of Christ. He also was a part of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture at Kansas State University from 1958 to 1988. He passed away Saturday November 28, 2015, at the Leonard Manor.
In addition to his parents, Lewis was preceded in death by six brothers, Carroll, R.B., Clayton, Elton, Bill, and Ray Browder, by two sisters, Estelle Masters and Rita Taylor, as well as by four infant siblings.
Lewis is survived by his wife: Zada Lea Browder of Leonard; his daughter: Judy Shaw and Tom Shaw of Leonard; his grandson: Benjamin E. Shaw and Grace Bai-Shaw of Beijing, China; his granddaughter: Whitney E. Shaw of Carrollton; his son: Kelly J. Browder and Marie Browder of Albuquerque, New, Mexico; his granddaughter: Jamie L. Holland and Jimmie Holland of Franklin, Tennessee; his great granddaughter: Rylie J. Holland of Franklin, Tennessee; his grandson: Andrew F. Browder of Kansas City, Kansas; his son: Timothy M. Browder and Cindy M. Evans of Topeka, Kansas; his grandson: Timothy J. “TJ” Browder of Topeka, Kansas and numerous nieces and nephews.