Obituaries
HENRY TOWERS
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.” I Cor. 16:13-14
Henry Towers Monroe, 90, of Gainesville, Georgia, passed peacefully into the presence of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on March 10, 2024, surrounded by his wife Julie and other family members in his home. 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 Frank and Margaret Monroe, Henry grew up in Ruston with his older sister Frances. Co-valedictorian at Ruston High, he graduated summa cum laude from Louisiana Tech in 1955 and began work as an accountant at Murphy Oil Corporation in El Dorado, Arkansas. He served in the U.S. Army in Germany from 1956 to 1958 followed by four years of reserve duty.
While visiting Louisiana Tech in 1959, Henry met a freshman from New Orleans, Julia Margaret McLendon. They were married on September 24, 1960, and established a life together in El Dorado, where they raised six children. After coming to faith in Christ, Henry and Julie sought Biblical teaching and fellowship in several churches, eventually settling at First Baptist Church.
During his 46 years at Murphy, Henry worked in accounting, information systems, auditing, and downstream accounting. He became a CPA and in 1982 was named corporate accounting manager. Henry was renowned for his eagle eye in proofreading Murphy’s annual report.
Following his 2001 retirement, Henry and Julie relocated to Gainesville and joined Chestnut Mountain Presbyterian Church (Flowery Branch). From 2003 to 2022 Henry volunteered with Lifeline of Northeast Georgia Medical Center, which honored him with the Auxiliary’s Volunteer of the Year Award in 2019. In retirement he loved spending time with his children and grandchildren. An avid birdwatcher, he enjoyed birding with his friend Jimmy Allen. He also found pleasure in books, music, and logic and word puzzles.
Henry leaves behind his wife of 63 years, Julie Monroe; children Tom Monroe (Kim), Sandi Fleming (Bryson), Michael Monroe (Karen), Elizabeth Jobson (Andy), Lesley Davenport (Steve), and Christie Dennis (Michael); sister Frances Stinson (Jerry); and 18 grandchildren. His parents, Frank Edward and Margaret Towers Monroe, and granddaughter Caroline Elizabeth Jobson preceded him in death.
A funeral service took place March 16 at Chestnut Mountain Presbyterian Church. Pallbearers were grandsons Samuel, Thomas, and David Fleming; Benjamin, Adam, Matthew, and William Jobson; and Henry C. Monroe. Granddaughters Allison Monroe, Kathleen Monroe Larson, Emily Fleming, Julia Margaret Fleming Metzger, Susanna and Christina Monroe, Emma Jobson, and Jessica, Joanna, and Elinor Davenport sang at the service.
Contributions in Henry’s memory can be made to the Faith Promise fund, Giving - Chestnut Mountain Presbyterian Church (cmpca.org). Online condolences may be shared at www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com. Henry will be missed by his family, friends, and all who knew him, but we are grateful for the godly heritage he has left us.
JOSEPH BURROUGHS
Joseph Leon Burroughs, 85, of El Dorado, Arkansas, passed away at his home Friday, March 29, 2024. He was born in Oklahoma City, OK on January 20, 1939, to Elmer and Beatrice Bloom Burroughs.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers David Elmer and his wife Ethelou Burroughs and
Jerry Lee Burroughs, and sister
LaRue Burroughs.
Those left to cherish his memory include his faithful wife of
66 years, Mary Lou Burroughs, daughter Becky (Roger) Williams of El Dorado, AR, sons Jay (Tina)
Burroughs, and Steve (Tonya)
Burroughs of Junction City, AR, sister-in-law Bobbie Burroughs of Burbank, CA, and sister-inlaw Dorothy (Robert) Howse of
El Dorado, AR. He was “Papaw” to Justin, Tyler (Andrea), Calley
(Chris), Taylor (Colby), Abbey
(Cameron), Tori (Izzy), Tifani
(Conner), Emily, Nathanial, Brittney, Landon, and Mary. He was “Great Grandpa” to Bradey, Amelia, Sheppard, Claiborne, Cadence, Reece, Carsyn, Collins, Amir, and Parker Jane. He was also “Uncle Leon” to many nieces and nephews.
Leon served in the U.S. National Guard and was a dedicated employee for Long’s Roofing & Sheet Metal Works for nearly 57 years. His co-workers became like family to him through the years. He had a nickname for almost everyone he worked with such as Catfish, Fox, Boy, and Pickle to name a few.
Leon loved Mary Lou. He married her on Wednesday, March 5, 1958. If you saw Mary Lou, you knew Leon wasn’t far behind her. He was very proud of their children and the lives they built with their families. Leon proudly supported his grandkids in all their sporting events, dance recitals, and other activities.
When he wasn’t working you would find Leon fishing, hunting, or cleaning the guns in his collection. He was an avid supporter of the Junction City Dragons and the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Visitation will be 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, April 1, 2024, at Perry’s Funeral Chapel. A service celebrating his life will be at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, at Perry’s Funeral Chapel, with Rev. Tom Williams officiating and his grandson, Tyler Williams, assisting. Interment will follow at Smyrna Cemetery in El Dorado, AR. Pallbearers include Robbie Fox, David Long, Cage Meade, Justin Williams, Bradey Williams, Phillip Strahan, EJ Jarrell, and Chris Eckoff.
The family would like to thank the dedicated nurses and staff at South Arkansas Home Health and Life Touch Hospice for their loving care of Leon. Memorials may be made to Lifetouch Hospice.