Barney Ray Brownlee's Obituary
Barney R. Brownlee, age 54, passed away surrounded by family, on Sunday, March 5, 2023. He was born on November 1, 1968, in Baton Rouge, LA.
Barney was a huge car enthusiast. From the early age of 15, he would find ways to earn money and look for a car to buy, in particular, muscle cars. He had a gift of seeing cars, not for how they looked when he bought them, but what that car could become. That gift allowed him to make a living buying and selling cars his entire life. He was very involved with various car clubs and occasionally used his expertise as a judge at car shows. To his friends and acquaintances, for a time he was known as “The Kid”, “Car King” or “Mopar Mike”. When not working with cars, Barney enjoyed spending time on his houseboat on the Muskegon River at Hardy Dam. Barney re-committed his life to Christ not long before he passed. This is a great comfort to his family and friends who were praying for his salvation.
Barney will be deeply missed by mother, Joanne Brownlee; children, Breanna Croschere and Jevin Brownlee; brother, Thomas A. “Tab” (Marsha) Brownlee; embraced as a sister, Lisa (Kevin) Clouser; half-sister, Racquel Thompson; girlfriend, Kristy Ciesielski; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his father, Thomas R. Brownlee.
VISITATION with the family will be held 5-8 PM on Monday, March 13, 2023, at The Lee Chapel of Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services (6291 Harvey St., Norton Shores, MI 49444). A MEMORIAL SERVICE will be 11 AM on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at Bethel Baptist Church (1066 E. Byron Rd., Norton Shores, MI 49441) with Pastor Doug VanderMolen officiating and VISITATION 1 hour prior to the service. MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS in Barney’s memory may be directed to Bethel Baptist Church. Funds will be used to support the Gideon Bible Ministry.
Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services is honored to be serving the Brownlee family. To share special memories with the family and sign the online guestbook, please visit www.sytsemafh.com.
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