Earl Brock Stanford

Earl Brock Stanford of Byrd, Texas, passed away peacefully on December 5, 2022, after 95 years of a life well lived.

He was born in Livingston, Texas, on June 28, 1927, to Isaac and Essie Lee Stanford. On December 23, 1949, Earl married the love of his life, Zelda Belle Ware. He is preceded in death by his parents and his wife of 50 years, Zelda.

Earl is survived by their four boys: Mark and wife Jeanne, Brock and wife Sherri, Dan and wife Jenn, Andrew and wife Cathy; six grandchildren: Jennifer and husband Kris, Elizabeth, Amber, Earl, Zelda, and Lily; three great grandchildren: Michael, Kennedy and Kane and one sister, Mary Sue Reidland.

Anyone who ever encountered Earl was greeted with a warm hug or firm handshake, humble kindness, witty sense of humor, and always an open heart. He had a zest for life and adventure as a young man which carried him through for all of his time. Earl served in the Navy immediately following high school graduation, experienced a Japan tour, then put his hard earned GI Bill grant money to use by attending the University of Texas in Austin. He became an accomplished exploration geophysicist and worked for Exxon for 30+ years. Earl had a unique talent for interpreting seismic data with incredible accuracy in the pursuit of unveiling natural gas and oil. He loved it and Exxon noticed.

Together with their children, Earl and Zelda lived in and traveled to many beautiful places all over the world during Earl’s time with Exxon. They experienced different parts of Asia, Africa, North America, Europe, and Australia. Earl lived grand and humble all at the same time. He had faith in God, his wife, the greater good of humanity, and simple everyday joys like no other. When it was retirement time in 1983, Earl made good on his promise to Zelda. They lived the rest of their lives on their farm in her home town of Byrd, Texas, and were dedicated members of the Church of Christ in Bardwell. Earl will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

Visitation will be held at J.E. Keever Mortuary in Ennis, Texas, on December 11, 2022, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Celebration of Life will also be held at J.E. Keever Mortuary on December 12, 2022, at 10 a.m. with interment to follow with graveside services at Grady Cemetery in Rankin, Texas, under the direction of J. E. Keever Mortuary, Inc.