Gary Nolan - PNW POV BLOG

Nov 2 2024

Honoring Clyde Browning: A Legacy of Community, Kindness, and Resilience in Sunriver

Giving Back / 7 Comments / By Gary Nolan

As the first snow of the season was falling in Sunriver, a gathering at Café Sintra was more than a memorial; it was a celebration […]

Honoring Clyde Browning: A Legacy of Community, Kindness, and Resilience in Sunriver Read More »

7 responses to “Honoring Clyde Browning: A Legacy of Community, Kindness, and Resilience in Sunriver”

Kyle Buehner

November 3, 2024

I’m sorry to learn of Clyde’s passing.

Clyde was the first person to give my father a chance by saying yes to an offer in 1987 for a then unproven product for vacation rentals. Thankfully, he was the first of many vacation rental managers who we went on to partner with. He started with us before we had a company name but ultimately that business became NAVIS. Clyde and the Browning family have been very special to many of us at NAVIS but especially dear to my dad, Milton Buehner.

Anonymous

November 4, 2024

Clyde’s granddaughter, Larry’s daughter is ERIN; not Aaron.

Anonymous

November 4, 2024

Thank you for letting us know!, just fixed that.

Anonymous

November 4, 2024

From Michelle Powell, Broker from Cascade Hasson Sotheby’s International Realty

I am deeply saddened by the passing of Clyde, who meant so much to me and to so many in our industry. Clyde was the person who took a chance on me as a brand-new broker, and from day one, he took me under his wing. With his mentorship, guidance, and trust, he opened doors to incredible opportunities in those first crucial years of my career, shaping both my path and my confidence. His wisdom and kindness left a lasting impact on me and on everyone he encountered.

While I’m sorry I couldn’t attend his celebration of life, I take comfort in knowing that so many others came together to honor him. Clyde’s legacy lives on in all of us whose lives he touched. He will be dearly missed.

Tom Fullmer

August 2, 2025

I met Clyde in 1987 when I first started doing business in Sunriver while working for Chambers Communications/Chambers Cable. Clyde was a huge advocate of my efforts to start a 24-hour Sunriver video called Welcome to Sunriver on Chambers Cable Channel 3.
Our frequent early morning flights to enjoy Central Oregon and shoot video from his Cessna remain treasured memories.
In 1989, when my son was just several months old, Clyde flew my wife, son and I from Eugene to Sunriver. Low clouds and weather required our flight path to fly low over I-5 north to Portland, then stay low over the Gorge heading east, then below the clouds south to Sunriver. 2.5 hours later, we arrived, with Clyde telling us to look for places to land the whole way if we had to.
My poor wife was a wreck and we still talk about that trip!
Clyde and his family are genuinely nice people who always remain fondly in our hearts.
Tom Fullmer

Anonymous

September 20, 2025

To Larry and family,
I’ve known the Browning family since they moved to McMinnville, Oregon. He was a big wig there too. I don’t remember the business he took over. He met good friends there also. I met his children , Joni (deceased) and Larry. we went to school together. I became a good friend of Joni. A very beautiful young woman with a huge heart. I loved her dearly like a sister. Larry was a very handsome young man. Even in 8th grade. Charming, funny, sweet and my first love. How could you not fall for a guy like him. I met his dad and also fell for him. A great man, a huge laugh, loving man, and so kind to me and he loved Joni and Larry as if there were no tomorrow. We laughed, we drank. And Clyde laughed even more and gave his hugs and love freely to people he cared about. Always accepting of all and the welcoming person to his beautiful home. I personally appreciated him. He knew i loved his son larry deeply. He always encouraged me to be me and to love Larry. Larry married Lori and then came two beautiful grandchildren for Clyde to love and spoil. Joni and i continued to come to Sunriver and visit as well as Larry, Lori and Dustin and Erin. I used to read them books. They were thev sweetest little ones. Little blondes. I will never forget my time with all of them. Including one of my best friends and sister Joni. I loved her so much. I wish all of you could’ve met her. You all would have loved her deeply as you have Clyde and Larry. I personally feel very blessed to have met them all, including Marjorie their mom. A lovely lady with a heart of gold. I could go on and on.
Thank you Clyde for the love you gave to me as a young woman. You were always so good to me always. I will never forget you.
With love,
Julia Oldham

Anonymous

September 20, 2025

I forgot to mention how much my mom, dad her brother, wife and all first cousins loved to come to Sunriver to have their cousins reunion. All first cousins. They came from Nebraska, Texas, Gig harbor, Wenannchee, Seattle, and Bellvue Washington. it was the time of their lives being there. many years they came and rented from Larry and Lori big huge beautiful homes, So they kept coming back. i was fortunate enough to be able to see these homes because i live in Bend. I love Bend and have lived here 38 years. I’m very blessed to now be retired here. My sister and husband retired here in 2019 and my little brother and wife will be here in a few years to retire. I’m so excited. My younger brother knew Joni and Larry Browning. We all went to school together in McMinnville. We all went to school with Lori’s family too. My parents and cousins loved coming here and giving Larry the business because theyed known him since he was a kid. They were very proud of him.
Sincerely,
Julia Oldham