Frank Ryon Monroe

Frank Ryon Monroe passed away on Monday, May 8, 2023 peacefully in the arms of his wife Laura and surrounded by the family he loved. He was born April 12, 1944 in Midland, TX to Percye (Ryon) Monroe and Samuel "Frank" Monroe. After attending Highland Park High School in Dallas, Frank attended Vanderbilt University, and received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Texas Law School.
Frank was the proud father to Mark (Katherine) and Meredith (Will Prince). In 1983, Frank married his beloved Ellen (Branch) Wakefield; he loved her three children, Melissa Hawley (Andrew), Tracy Southwick (Patrick) and Stephen Wakefield (Anne), as his own. They were married until her death in 2017. Upon Ellen's insistence, Frank moved back to Houston after her death and was blessed with true love one last time when he met and married Laura Jungeblut, to whom he was married until his passing. Frank was welcomed lovingly into her family by her three sons Adam (Robyn), Neal (Candice) and Grant (Melissa) and all of their 9 children who added to the joy of the 15 grandchildren he and Ellen shared.
His proudest professional achievement was being appointed as United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Western District of Texas, serving 20 years in Austin. He was known as a wise, pragmatic, and fair adjudicator- he treated everyone with honor and respect. Adored and respected by all who worked with him, he will be remembered for generations for the opinions he authored and for his fun spirit (he was often wearing shorts and sandals under his robe!)
Prior to being appointed to the bench, Frank had a distinguished 20 year career with Sheinfeld, Maley and Kay in Houston as a bankruptcy attorney, rising to Managing Partner.
Frank cherished his Catholic faith and was ordained as a Deacon in the Diocese of Austin in 1998 serving at St. Mary's in Wimberley and St. Helen's in Georgetown, then later serving in the Diocese of Tyler at St. Andrew's in Lufkin. He married and baptized many of his own children, grandchildren, and friends through the years. He was well known for his deeply profound and inspiring homilies that were often recorded and distributed. He retired from the Deaconate after 19 years of service, and was later returned to the lay state by the Holy See in September, 2019, to clear the path to marrying Laura.
Frank was a humble, generous, kind, and compassionate man who loved to laugh and cherished his family, friends, and all of the 23 dogs he had over the years. Frank was multi-talented and found pleasure in a wide range of hobbies and activities. He was a natural golfer and all-around athlete, playing basketball and baseball throughout high school and college. He often spoke fondly of the years he coached Mark's baseball and football teams, especially the Rummel Creek Raiders, never missing a game. He also loved cars (yes, he owned 59 in his lifetime) and was a natural handyman inside and outside the house. For several years during the 90s, he enjoyed life as a rancher in Wimberley, Texas, spending time haying fields, riding his horse, and tending to the cattle and other animals he dearly loved. Finally, after a long, successful career, he enjoyed the relaxation of retirement: the daily joy of spending time with his many loved ones; caring for his dogs; and, of course, attending his grandchildren's sporting events. His special place these last 3 and a half years has been with his great love, Laura, often at their second home in Galveston-talking, playing cards, watching the ocean and wildlife, and just enjoying their time together. Their marriage was truly a sacred gift from God, a sweet foretaste of Heaven.
In addition to Ellen, he is preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Betsy Bagwell, his granddaughter Abigail Monroe and grandson Elijah Hawley. He will be deeply missed by his grandchildren still on Earth: Juniper Prince, Samantha and Charlotte Monroe, Mackenzie, Sebastian, Mary Grace, Eloise, Thomas, Henry, and Charlie Hawley, Ellie Lenz, Megan Southwick, Finn and Baxter Wakefield, and William, Avery, Lilly, Elizabeth, EmilyGrace, Abigail, Madelyn, Hayes, and Jules Jungeblut.
Frank was a grateful and proud recipient of a lung transplant on May 8, 2020. He was blessed to meet and come to love the brave family of his donor, Mark Neff, who was 17 at the time of his death. If he were able, he would deeply encourage others to give the gift of life by registering to become an organ donor. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to LifeGift.org.
A rosary and visitation beginning at 9:30 will be held on Monday, May 22, at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 625 Nottingham Oaks Trail, Houston, 77079. Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10:30 with reception afterwards in St. Jude Hall. The family will then travel to Georgetown for the burial.
Frank loved deeply and will be deeply missed.