Mary “Emily” Stafford died peacefully in her home with family on Oct. 18, 2022, at the age of 82. Emily was born in Edmund, Oklahoma, on Feb. 23, 1940. She was adopted at birth by Kyle and Lillian “Monte” (Montgomery) Stone and raised in Sherman, Texas. Emily was a singularly charismatic lady who lived a rich, adventurous and fulfilling life.
After graduating from Sherman High School, Emily enrolled at Texas Tech University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Government. Emily traveled extensively during her lifetime. As a young woman, Stafford
she worked abroad for a travel agency in Copenhagen which afforded her the opportunity to visit much of Western Europe. She worked for the Scandinavian Student Travel Service (This may or may not have been a front for the CIAlook it up!).
Upon returning to the States, she lived and worked in New York City. It is here where she met her husband, Benjamin Alvis Stafford. They were married in 1968 and raised two children. Over the course of Ben’s military career, the family lived in numerous places including New Mexico, Washington D.C., Kansas, California and West Germany.
After retiring from the Military, the family settled in Boerne, Texas. Emily had a varied and exciting working life. In addition, to working abroad and in New York City, she worked as an aide in the Congressional Office of O.C. Fisher in Washington D.C. during the Watergate episode.
February 23, 1940 – October 18, 2022
While in California, Emily worked on an assembly line in a General Foods’ Factory (she was a Teamster!) as well as completing an internship at a federal prison as part of her course of study earning a Master’s in Counseling.
Upon settling in Boerne, Emily sold real estate for Guy Chipman before taking a job as an educator for Boerne High School. During her stint at BHS, Emily taught English and journalism before eventually retiring as an academic counselor for the school. It is not an exaggeration to state that Emily was a “force of nature” with an infectious personality and a great sense of humor. She could “hold court” in most any social setting. She will be missed terribly.
Emily is preceded in death by her husband Colonel Benjamin Alvis Stafford (d.2009) and her “sister,” Sharon Graves. She is missed by her son, Matthew Stafford; her daughter, Jennifer Stafford; her “sisters”: Candee Myers, Nancy Beall and Ann McFarland; her brother-in-law and his wife, Frank and Sandy Stafford; her niece, Amy Bunker; her nephew, Luke Stafford; her great nieces, Austin and Madison; her great nephews, Grey and Reed; her extended family, Lloyd and Jennifer Voigt; her cherished “grandchildren”: Paige Voigt, Carly Voigt and Anna Voigt; and all the students and colleagues she impacted at Boerne High School.
A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022, at 10 a.m. at Boerne City Cemetery. To leave condolences for the family, please visit ww. ebensberger- fisher. com. Arrangements with Ebensberger-Fisher Funeral Home of Boerne.
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