Roll Call Tribute

Monique D. (Dubrule) Reed 

February 13, 1963 - January 17, 2025 

Following a prolonged battle with cancer, Monique Dubrule Reed passed into eternity on Friday, January 17, 2025.

Monique was born in El Paso, Texas and, apart from a few years spent in Germany before she started school, lived there until she left to attend Texas A&M University, where she received her degree in 1985. Upon graduation, she started working for the university, retiring in 2020. While she was working there, she also worked on a master's degree, completing it in 1997.

Monique met the love of her life David when both were undergraduates, though they didn't start dating until much later. They married in January of 1994. One of the final things that Monique did was hang on in an unwavering determination to celebrate one more wedding anniversary with David a few days before she died.

Monique was immensely gifted in many different fields. Her profession was taxonomical botany (identifying wild plants). She devoted many years to teaching students, sharing her love of plants with the public, and running the herbarium of the Biology Department at Texas A&M. She was a respected authority in her field, having co-authored an award-winning book and discovered a previously unknown species of wildflower. Many of those she taught and mentored fondly remember Monique's special love of "belly botany" -- plants that are so small that one must get down on the ground to see and appreciate them.

In addition to writing in her field, Monique also authored novels, a children's book (which she also illustrated), a cookbook, and books that documented some of the trips that she and David took together. Those who received the annual Christmas letters (The Eclectic Chronicle) that Monique and David co-created treasured the always innovative ways she communicated the events of the previous year.

Monique's boundless creative energies also found expression in illustration, calligraphy, needlework, quilting, and sewing.

Monique had a thirst for knowledge, and was always curious. In the year before her cancer diagnosis, she was suddenly struck with the desire to learn a long-dead language. She dove in, learned, and eventually became friends with an expert in the field. Her enthusiasm for her interests knew no limits and, through them, she made friends around the world. Monique loved talking and exchanging correspondence with her family, many friends, colleagues, and acquaintances.

Monique was also very devoted to her Catholic faith and was always driven to share that faith and help those who were trying to grow in their relationship with God. She was an active parishioner of St. Mary's Catholic Center in College Station for over forty years. She staffed innumerable Awakening retreats. She accompanied David during his formation for the diaconate, attending almost every class with him, and giving him support as he discerned and pursued his vocation. She was instrumental in Catholic services being offered to inmates in the Brazos County jails for many decades. She served as a volunteer at the Brazos Valley Food Bank and helped with the Thanksgiving and Christmas distributions of the local St. Vincent de Paul society.

Monique is survived by David, her husband of 31 years, her mother Louise Dubrule, her sister Michelle Bryson (and her husband Miles), her niece Kristina Merkley (and husband Christopher), her nephew Cohen Bryson, great-nieces Annalise and Hailey Merkley, and great-nephews Cyrus, Liam, and Samson Merkley. Monique's father, Maurice, preceded her in death.

Monique is also missed by two cats -- Flannel and Taffy.