John D. Stover

A Memorial Service for John D. Stover, 80, of Lufkin, will be held Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Cyprian's Episcopal Church, Lufkin, Texas, with Reverand Ashley Cook officiating.

Mr. Stover was born on September 7, 1945, in Teague, Texas, to the late John L. Stover and the late Elouise (Baldridge) Stover, and died Sunday, January 4, 2026, in Nacogdoches, Texas.

Mr. Stover was a valued member of the 1963 Corsicana High School football team where they won the Texas state championship. He remained close to his teammates throughout his life. John D. Stover began his law practice in Lufkin, Texas upon graduating with a J.D. degree from the University of Texas School of Law in 1971. He had previously received his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, where he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He was appointed by Governor William P. Clements to the Texas Water Commission, predecessor for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, in 1982. After completing his tenure on the Commission, he practiced in Austin until 1997 when he returned to Lufkin. Since 1971, he has represented businesses, industries, government organizations, and others in state and federal courts and before the Environmental Protection Agency, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and other forums. He taught water law as an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Texas School of Law and is an Adjunct Professor of Forestry (Environmental Law) at Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, Texas. He is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Texas, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, and the Fifth Circuit, U.S. Court of Appeals. Mr. Stover had a successful law practice for 50-plus years, and he was instrumental in bringing Habitat for Humanity to Angelina County. He was especially proud of being awarded the Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Review rating.

He enjoyed sailing with Jim Trout and Jerry Moore and their sons on the Indecision with various and sundry crew members who were occasionally unknown until the day of the trip. John was a founding member of the Texas Rum Society. He loved hunting, especially duck hunting with Seth and John David and was quick with a bad joke. John became a pilot in the 1970's, taught by Ben R. Ogletree.

John is survived by his wife, Lynell (Pyle) Stover; son and daughter-in-law, Seth and Dawn Stover of Nacogdoches; stepdaughter and son-in-law, Leah and David Polk of Santa Monica, California; stepson and daughter-in-law, Andy and Allyson Arnold of Houston; grandson, John David Stover; grandson, Hudson Arnold; granddaughter, Nora Polk; grandson, Parker Polk; nephew, Derek Lancaster; and niece, Wendy Trinidad.

Mr. Stover was preceded in death by his parents; and sister, Mary Lancaster.

Honorary pallbearers will be Jerry Moore, Jerry Whitaker, Tom Duncan, Abb Roquemore, Ben R. Ogletree, Ben R. Ogletree III, Donnie Denbow, Frank Murchinson, Kenneth Jeffrey, and Scott Stubblefield.

A reception will follow from 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Saturday, January 10, 2025, at Crown Colony Country Club, Lufkin.

Special memorials may be made to Habitat for Humanity of Deep East Texas at www.habitatdetx.org or a charity of choice.

Shafer Funeral Home, Lufkin directors.