Kay Law Stovall

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, teacher, and friend, Kay Law Stovall. Kay passed away Sunday, February 26, 2023, at the age of 80 in Lone Tree, CO. She will lovingly be remembered by her children and 2 grandchildren: son Rawson Stovall (daughter-in-law Jenn Marshall and grandson Willet Stovall) and daughter Jenny Stovall-McPherson (son-in-law Simon McPherson and granddaughter Summer Vance).

Kay Stovall will also be missed by her brothers Douglas Law and Frank Law, and their families. Kay was preceded in death by her father Randall Law (1961), her mother Frances Law (2002) and husband Ronald Lane Stovall (1998).

Kay Stovall was a longtime resident of Abilene, TX though at other times lived in Raymondville, TX; Waco, TX; Chapel Hill, NC; Woodville, TX; El Paso, TX; Keller, TX; and Lone Tree, CO.

Kay was born in Raymondville, TX on September 26, 1942. She graduated from Baylor University in 1965 with a degree in English, which she taught for many years at the Middle School and High School levels in the Hillsborough, NC, Durham, NC, Chester, TX, and El Paso, TX areas. She found that students, normally resistant to learning poetry, perked up when the subject was also taught with the lyrics of contemporary songs.

During her first year of teaching high school in East Texas, she was shocked to discover that not only were the kids unfamiliar with book reports, but they also didn't even know what a library was. When she asked the principal, he questioned the need for a library. "There's only two books that these kids ever need to read - the bible and their textbook." As a result, she organized an underground library for the school, which she ran from the trunk of her car with donated books and books on loan from libraries in neighboring counties.

At the end of her career, Kay taught Homebound education for the Abilene Independent School District in Abilene, TX. Working with children of all ages, whose illnesses or conditions made it so they were unable to attend school, she assumed the various roles of friend, therapist, and teacher, covering any and all academic subjects.

In the mid-1970s, Kay and her husband Ronald Stovall utilized methods from Saul Alinsky's book Rules for Radicals: A Pragmatic Primer for Realistic Radicals to help organize a Parent Teachers Association for Alta Vista Elementary School in Abilene, TX. As a result of their organizing activities, the PTA was successful in raising money and building a challenge course style playground for the school.

Kay helped her son with his syndicated newspaper column, The Vid Kid, but also played a lot of the games that were reviewed. She was the only mom we knew who could beat both Super Mario Brothers 1 and 2, while also slaying on Bomberman.

Kay could speak at length with anyone she had just met. She could have taught a master class in garage sales. She enjoyed puzzles, games, brain teasers, documentaries, anything by Rachel Maddow, root beer floats, good movies, hours at donut shops talking with anyone, Hershey Bars with Almonds, 7-Up with lime sherbet after a hot afternoon of outdoor lawn work and perpetrated a good prank.

Kay ended every phone conversation with a drawn-out, "Well... I won't keep ya."

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held on April 29 at 4:30pm at the Lakewood Yacht Club in Seabrook, TX, 2322 Lakewood Yacht Club Drive, Seabrook, TX 77586.

In recognition of Kay's experience with children and illness, the family suggests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to any of the following charities:

The March of Dimes, The American Lung Association, National Jewish Health in Denver, CO, or West Texas Rehab Center in Abilene, TX.