Lawton senior remembered for her smile, love for science

Brianne Hovey was soft spoken, holding a wealth of information with every new book she read.

The Lawton senior was always learning, a kind-hearted science enthusiast looking to better her research. Her friends called her “Bri.”

Hovey, 21, died Thursday because of a brain aneurysm that friends say was most likely brought on from constant headaches after a car accident in 2004. She died on the five-year anniversary of the accident.

She was a private person, friends say, but a determined woman who let out the occasional smile. And when she smiled, it was glorious, said Karl Bouwhuis, who had been Hovey’s boyfriend of two-and-a-half years.

“Brianne was a lovely, intelligent, quiet, talented, young woman who will be greatly missed by everyone who knew her,” said Anne Marie Hovey, Brianne’s mother. “She loved her life and friends at Central Michigan University and she looked forward to a career in research.”

Hovey was the passenger in a friend’s car when a drunken driver collided into her friend’s vehicle. Upon ambulance arrival, Hovey was rushed to the hospital, said Eva Rohlman, a longtime college roommate.

“She nearly died, but she survived,” Rohlman said. “Bri recovered from that, but suffered from constant pain. She suffered headaches since she left the hospital until the day she died. Bri had a very good outlook on the whole thing though, and thought it as part of her life’s journey.

“It’s possible the aneurism is from that, or it could have been just a fluke, we don’t know yet. After she was declared brain dead, there was not a whole lot the doctors could do.”

Hovey could not work after the accident because of insurance reasons, said Bouwhuis, a Lowell graduate assistant.

Rohlman lived with Hovey on the second floor of Larzelere Hall in 2006, her freshman year. Hovey lived on the third floor in 2007 before moving into an apartment, which she shared with Rohlman.

Hovey’s favorite authors included Anne Rice and Richard Dawkins. A copy of one of Rice’s novel was on Hovey’s bedside last week, Rohlman said.

Her hobbies were few, as she spent a lot of her time digging deeper into scientific research — a career in research was her passion and career goal. She was a neuroscience major on track to graduate in May.

It was not hard to make Hovey laugh, Bouwhuis said. The two broke up at the beginning of the semester, but Hovey was his neighbor and still one of his best friends.

“Bri was an amazing woman. She was a science nerd — really quirky, but we loved her for it,” Bouwhuis said. “It was the best two and a half years of my life. I am really sorry she’s gone. I loved her.”

Hovey was a member of College Democrats for three years. Southgate junior Stephen Johnson, the group’s communication director, said Hovey was a very kind person who was very involved in the organization.

Hovey had a very giving personality and wanted to continue that after her death. Since the car accident, Rohland said, she has been very passionate about donating all of her organs to The Gift of Life.

“Definitely, that’s something she got to do. In fact, it was her one last final accomplishment in her journey,” Rohland said. “I am glad she got an extra five years after the accident. She was a light in our lives and she made life more fun and interesting and more whole. We will miss her.”