Cory Dow Stovall was born in Llano, Texas, on Sept. 15, 1970, and died from injuries sustained in an automobile accident Nov. 3, 2014, at the young age of 44.
Cory graduated from Llano High School in 1989. He attended Abilene Christian University, where he played football and graduated with a Bachelor of Science and Business Administration degrees in 1995. He had a successful career in the oil and gas industry.
Cory lived and worked on numerous pipeline projects across the United States and in various supervisory positions, including superintendent, project manager, environmental inspector and chief. He was contracted with Kinder Morgan for the past six years.
Cory had a gentle spirit, and those who had the pleasure of knowing him or being in his presence were somehow touched by his kindness, ease of existence, generosity and selflessness. Many friends have shared that they are better people for having Cory in their lives.
At 10 years old, his true passion for life was revealed when his mother gave him a guitar. He was self-taught and played with a rare and uncommon talent. He could play anything he heard, from Eddie Van Halen’s most difficult solos to an echoed version of Hungarian Rhapsody after hearing his mother play it on the piano only once. He attempted and mastered every other instrument he played: guitar, piano, banjo, mandolin, drums, bass and even trombone. But his true love was his guitar.
Cory loved classical, rock, country, bluegrass and gospel. What type of music he played never mattered, as long as he played. His passion for music was unstoppable. Though Cory never pursued a career in music, he opted to surround himself with amazing musicians, songwriters and industry leaders. As he traveled the country with his career in pipeline construction, he was most at home in the local guitar shops and music communities that sustained his love of playing.
Cory loved God, exemplifying the fruits of the spirit. He was extremely close to his family, friends and co-workers. He was especially partial to his nieces, Hailey and Hannah Osbourn, and his nephews, Hagen and Chase Patterson. He adored them as his own children and patiently taught them all to play his beloved musical instruments so that when they had weekends together, they had their own built-in band in which to play and sing! He enjoyed the outdoors, fishing with his dad and singing with his two sisters.
Cory is survived by and was the only son born to Barbara Bishop Lawrence and Larry Stovall. Other survivors include his older sister, Tracie Patterson and husband Todd of Lakeway; younger sister, Jenny Osbourn and husband Jeffrey of San Saba; grandmother Rose Bishop of Rockport; uncle Jerry Bishop of Georgetown; aunt Debbie Feild of Corpus Christi; nieces, Hailey and Hannah Osbourn of San Saba; nephews, Hagen and Chase Patterson of Lakeway; cousins Tommy Stovall, Angie Bishop, Luke Bishop and Justin Feild; and numerous other extended family members.
Being an only son, Cory considered his brothers-in-law Todd Patterson and Jeffrey Osbourn the brothers he never had in addition to his ACU football teammates.
Visitation is 5-7 p.m. Nov. 7 at Waldrope-Hatfield-Hawthorne Funeral Home, 307 E. Sandstone in Llano, (325) 247-4300. A celebration of Cory’s life is 2 p.m. Nov. 8 at Lutie Watkins United Methodist Church, 800 Wright St. in Llano. Interment will be at the family cemetery in Willow City.
The family has established the Cory Stovall Chords of Life Scholarship Fund to award and bless students with a passion for their talents and gifts. Donations may be sent to: American Bank of Texas, 1913 Ranch Road 620 S #100, Lakeway, TX 78643, Attn: Beth Byer.
Email whhfuneral1@verizon.net with condolences.
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