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Charlotte
“Ellen” Branch Monroe passed from this world Thursday, March 16, 2017 after a
graceful and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. She was born July 11,
1944 in Dallas, Texas to Helen Othel (Bauman) Branch and Lee Wadsworth Branch.
After graduating from Highland Park High School in 1962, she attended Texas Tech
University and the University of Texas as a Kappa Kappa Gamma. She then married
Stephen Alan Wakefield, Sr. and settled in Houston, Texas.
Ellen had three children with Steve: Melissa Hawley of Manassas, Virginia, Tracy Southwick of London, England, and Steve Wakefield, Jr. of Austin. She later married Frank Ryon Monroe, the love of her life, January 1, 1983, and spiritually adopted his two children, Mark E. Monroe and Meredith Monroe, both of Brooklyn, New York. Frank and Ellen have been blessed with 16 grandchildren.
She moved to Austin, Texas with Frank in 1989, also lived in Wimberley, Texas and Georgetown, Texas, and subsequently settled in Lufkin, Texas in 2014.
Through the years she has been very active in her church, being the Director of Religious Education at St. John the Divine and teaching RCIA and First Communion Classes. She was also active in the Junior League, Yolkfellow, The Kappa Pilgrimage, and Community Bible Studies.
Ellen attended Glassell School of Art in Houston for several years. She had great artistic talent which was reflected in her jewelry design, her fiber arts creations, her sewing, her gifted interior designs, her fabulous cooking, and her musical prowess. In 1957, Ellen was State Winner in the Intermediate Class of the National Piano Auditions. She was an accomplished guitarist and vocalist, as well.
Ellen was a naturally kind and considerate person who exemplified both humility and wisdom. Even in her last days, she was more concerned about those whom she would leave behind than she was about herself. She had a strong faith in her Savior Jesus Christ which shown through in her actions on a daily basis and she had a great devotion to His Mother, The Blessed Virgin Mary. Her strong moral compass guided those she loved and those who loved her. She was adored by her husband, children and grandchildren who will miss her greatly until they are rejoined in Heaven.
She is also survived by her sister, Paula Holt of San Francisco, California and is preceded in death by her parents, her brother Charles Branch, and granddaughter, Abigail Monroe.
Pallbearers will be Mark Monroe, Steve Wakefield, Will Prince, Patrick Southwick, Elijah Hawley, Michael P. Massad, Jr., and O.H. “Bud” Storey.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a charity of your choice.