James Woodrow Stovall Jr.

Mr. Stovall was a husband, a brother, a father, a grandfather, and a great-grandfather; his family remembers him lovingly.

Born in Granite, Oklahoma to Marie Moore and James W. Stovall, Sr., he would often boast that he was born at the foot of the mountain. Jim, as he was known, would grow up in Mangam, OK where he attended elementary school and was a member of the glee club.

Jim would later move to Baytown, TX where he would reside with his mother, Marie, and his stepfather, Archibald “AD” Dillahunty for the remainder of his formative years. Also present were his two sisters, Barbara Stovall and Brenda Dillahunty.

It was in Baytown that he met Joseph Wayne Chapman and a lifetime friendship was born which ended only with the death of Joe decades later. James was known affectionately to his group of intimate friends as “The Red Dog,” owing to his vibrant red shade of hair. It was also in Baytown that he met Bobbie Martin. The two were married January 8, 1965. Their shared birthday of Christmas day was always a topic of awe and amazement.

In the course of his life, Jim was a member of the US Army and had a productive career as a foreman at Celanese Corporation. Upon being asked what exactly he did at work he replied, “what does it look like I do? I ride around in a pickup truck.” One of James’ hobbies was the cultivation of hot peppers. There were many who were duped into sampling his offerings, though few did so twice. He also attended Lee college where he came to despise the epic of Beowulf, a work that much to his chagrin his son loved and would constantly talk about.

Although he had a stubborn streak, Jim was a generous man who doted on his children and grandchildren. His no would often turn to yes when he chose to lavish gifts on those he loved. To the thrill of his family, in July of 2018 he elected to get baptized in Lake Anahuac in a private ceremony with his good friend, Dan Peddy.

James Woodrow Stovall, Jr. is preceded by his parents, Marie, Archibald, and James; by his sisters, Barbara and Leslie, and by his daughter, Sharon. He is survived by his wife, Bobbie; his sister, Brenda, his children, Bonita and James; by his grandchildren Lacy, Clare, and Jude; and by his great-grandchildren, Noah and KJ.

Though small of stature Jim was big at heart. He will be missed.