Henry Towers Monroe

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.” I Corinthians 16:13-14

Henry Towers Monroe, 90, of Gainesville, Georgia, passed peacefully at home into the presence of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, on March 10, 2024, surrounded by his loving wife Julie, three of his children, and several other family members. A man of faith and family, Henry was known for his quiet and kind demeanor along with his brilliant mind and quirky sense of humor.

Born on December 31, 1933, in Ruston, Louisiana, to Margaret and Frank Monroe, Henry and his older sister Frances (Monroe) Stinson grew up in Ruston. He excelled academically, graduating as co-valedictorian of his class from Ruston High School. After graduation, he attended Louisiana Tech where he studied Accountancy, played tuba with the band, and participated in several academic and social clubs. He graduated summa cum laude in 1955 and was hired as an accountant by Murphy Oil Corporation in El Dorado, Arkansas.

In 1956 the U.S. Army called Henry into active service in postwar Germany. After completing his assignment in 1958, he resumed his job at Murphy and served in the U.S. Army Reserve until he was honorably discharged with the rank of sergeant in 1962. Later in life, Henry enjoyed reminiscing about his travels to Paris, London, and the Netherlands while serving overseas.

During a 1959 visit to his alma mater, Henry met a young freshman from New Orleans, Julia Margaret McLendon, at Westminster Fellowship. They fell in love, were married on September 24, 1960, and established a life together in El Dorado, Arkansas, where they raised their six children. After coming to true faith in Christ alone as their Savior from sin, Henry and Julie sought Biblical preaching, teaching, and fellowship in a series of churches, including First United Methodist, Good News Chapel, Marrable Hill Chapel, John Knox Presbyterian (Ruston), and First Baptist. They also developed lifelong friendships with other believers, particularly Jimmy and Mary Lou Allen, James and Tari Alexander, and Roy and Elizabeth Rood.

Over his 46-year career at Murphy Oil, Henry moved through the Accounting Department and was the programmer organizer for Information Systems from 1964-1966. Promoted to the Auditing Division, he eventually became its manager. In 1973 he became the manager of Downstream Accounting. He earned his CPA in 1976 and reached the position of Corporate Accounting Manager at Murphy in 1982. Henry was renowned for his eagle eye in proofreading Murphy’s annual report. Following his retirement from Murphy in 2001, Henry and Julie moved to Gainesville, Georgia, in order to be closer to their children and grandchildren.

After moving to Gainesville, Henry and Julie became involved first in Westminster Presbyterian Church and later in Chestnut Mountain Presbyterian Church (Flowery Branch). In addition to morning and evening services at CMPC, Henry regularly attended Sunday school, Wednesday night classes, missions conferences, and Mountain Climbers events; together Henry and Julie enjoyed attending Keenagers conferences at Ridge Haven.

Once retired, Henry spent his free time in a variety of productive ways. Notably, in 2003 he began volunteering with Lifeline of Northeast Georgia Medical Center, a service that he continued until 2022. In 2019 he was recognized with the NGMC Auxiliary’s Volunteer of the Year Award. He also spent more time with his growing extended family, frequently visiting his children (helping with a variety of odd jobs around their houses), always welcoming them to his home (uncomplainingly donating hours of free childcare), and happily sitting in the audience of his grandchildren’s music, theater, and dance performances or cheering them on in athletic events. Henry was a lifelong birdwatcher and indulged this passion even more in retirement, keeping careful records of the birds he identified and going on birding expeditions with his best friend, Jimmy Allen. He also enjoyed reading, listening to classical music, and working logic and word puzzles.

Henry leaves behind his beloved wife, Julie Monroe; his children Tom Monroe (Kim), Sandi Fleming (Bryson), Michael Monroe (Karen), Elizabeth Jobson (Andy), Lesley Davenport (Steve), and Christie Dennis (Michael); and his sister Frances Stinson (Jerry). He is also survived by eighteen grandchildren: Allison Monroe, Kathleen Larson (Ben), Samuel Fleming, Emily Fleming, Thomas Fleming, Julia Margaret Metzger (Regan), David Fleming, Susanna Monroe, Christina Monroe, Henry C. Monroe, Benjamin Jobson, Adam Jobson, Matthew Jobson, Emma Jobson, William Jobson, Jessica Davenport, Joanna Davenport, and Elinor Davenport. He was preceded in death by his father, Frank Edward Monroe, his mother, Margaret Towers Monroe, and his granddaughter, Caroline Elizabeth Jobson.

A funeral service to celebrate Henry's life will be held on Saturday, March 16, at Chestnut Mountain Presbyterian Church at 2:00 p.m. with a family visitation at 1:00 p.m. Contributions in his memory can be made to the Chestnut Mountain Presbyterian Church Faith Promise (missions) fund, Giving – Chestnut Mountain Presbyterian Church (cmpca.org).

Henry will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and all who knew him, but we are thankful for the godly heritage that he has left for his children and grandchildren.

Memorial Park Riverside Chapel 989 Riverside Drive Gainesville, Georgia is in charge of arrangements. For online condolences www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com