He was born to Julian Rae Browne and Kathleen Dorian Tyson on August 3, 1964 in Hamilton, New Zealand. He spent much time in the days of his youth traveling between New Zealand and the US, where he would move often around the southeast, living in Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee, where he attended schools for the deaf in each state. He and his family eventually settled in Middle Tennessee where he remained for all of his adult life. He enjoyed many sports in his childhood and teenage years including baseball, football, and basketball. He eventually earned a spot on the New Zealand Deaf Olympic Basketball Team. He was extremely dedicated to his family and his career. He was employed for 26 years at the LaVergne Bridgestone Firestone Tire Plant where he was an active member of the Union and was very involved with the co-workers and made many life-long friends. William also loved the outdoors; fishing, boating, riding ATV trails. He also was a very avid photographer and was extremely interested in cinematography. He had a great many friends and was very involved in the local deaf community. He cared very much for his two sons, Cameron and Jared, as well as his long-time wife of 28 years, Karen Browne.
He is joined in death by his mother, Kathleen D. Tyson, and mother and father-in-law, Gerald and Elsie Chapman.
He is survived by his wife, Karen C. Browne; two sons, Cameron and Jared Browne; older sisters, Susan Browne and Jacqueline (Mike) Marco; younger sister, Tara (Gil) Fuqua, and half-sister, Emma Clay. He is also survived by his two brothers-in-law, Kevin (Judy) Chapman and Steve Chapman; niece, Emma (Graham) Lovatt and Amanda Fuqua; nephews, Mark (Heather) Chapman and Brian Chapman, Devin and Austin Fuqua, Corey and Josh Chapman.
Visitation will be at Hermitage Funeral Home on Sunday, May 31, 2020 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm, and on Monday, June 1, 2020 from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm.
The Celebration of Life will be conducted in the Hermitage Funeral Home chapel on Monday, June 1, 2020 at 2:00 pm with Dr. Jud Hays officiating.
Interment will follow at Hermitage Memorial Gardens.
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