Stacey Carol Hover

Stacey Carol Hover, fifty-five years young, passed away while surrounded by loved ones on October 16, 2024, in Escondido, California. 

A celebration and memorialization of Stacey's life will be held at 1 P.M. on Saturday, November 9, 2024, at Elwood Baptist Church in Elwood, Texas, followed by her burial at Allphin Cemetery. A second celebration of life will be held in California in the near future.   

A second celebration of life gathering honoring Stacey will be held from 2 P.M. to 4 P.M. on Friday, November 22, 2024 at the chapel of Alhiser-Comer Mortuary, 225 S. Broadway, Escondido, California 92025.

Stacey was born on April 15, 1969, to Don and Janette Reynolds in Conroe, Texas. Stacey graduated from Madisonville High School in 1987, Salutatorian of her class. Stacey graduated from Sam Houston State University with a BBA in Accounting, followed by a Masters in Accounting from University of Houston. 

Stacey's closest friends growing up were Lisa Hatcher and Stacey's cousin, Jenny Harrell. Stacey cherished their friendship and they would remain lifelong friends. Stacey's family is very appreciative of the kindness and support Jenny and Lisa gave during Stacey's cancer journey and afterwards.

Stacey's first years of work included managing a NutriSystem Weight Loss Center in Humble, Texas, teaching a Computer Skills class to incarcerated men in a prison near Huntsville, Texas, and teaching Accounting Principles to high school students in Round Rock, Texas. Stacey was perfect for these teaching jobs, as her innate patience, empathy, kindness, and respect for all persons instilled trust and confidence in those she sought to help.

In 2004, Stacey moved to California and married her husband, James Edward "Jim" Hover. She loved being a stepmom to their son, Nolan Ryan Hover, whom she would always adore and in whom she was very proud as he became a successful young adult. Through the years, Stacey became good friends with Nolan's mom, Amy Russo, and her husband Rich, along with Nolan's siblings Colin, Emily, and Aiden, and Amy's parents, affectionately known as "Ma" and "Pa." Stacey's family is very appreciative of how kind and supportive Amy and her family have been during Stacey's cancer journey and afterwards.

Regarding her professional life, Stacey began her work in California in San Diego at the corporate headquarters of Kratos Defense, a security, defense, and technology company. In 2012, she became a Government Compliance Specialist with General Atomics (GA), an American energy, defense, technology, and security corporation also headquartered in San Diego, whose pursuits include, among other things, advanced technology in unmanned aircraft and developments in nuclear fusion and nuclear fission. Stacey loved working with her GA "family," and especially enjoyed her friendships on her Government Accounting team. 

Stacey's family deeply appreciates how GA accommodated, encouraged, and supported Stacey throughout her four-plus year cancer journey and afterwards.

In the Spring of 2024, when switched to a pill form of chemotherapy that allowed her freedom from weekly infusion center visits, Stacey enjoyed a two week trip to Dublin, Belfast, Madrid, Paris, and London with her husband and her sister, Jantha (who adored her). Her niece, Audrey, joined them in Madrid (where she lives and works) and in London.

Excepting this European trip, Stacey worked full time with GA until a few weeks before what would become her final few hospitalizations. She consoled her family and friends when the hard news came that she could not proceed with the Clinical Trial at MD Anderson to which she had already been accepted, but instead needed to enter hospice care. Even during these most difficult moments, she looked to care for others first. She leaves behind a legacy of love, strength, selflessness, and bravery for us all.

In addition to enjoying her family, friends and work, Stacey enjoyed attending church, coming home to Texas to help her parents and visit her siblings and lifelong friends, hosting parties in her home, listening to good music and putting together expansive jigsaw puzzles, and, with her beloved stepson and husband, attending San Diego Padres games and Airshows featuring the Blue Angels, and attending and watching NASCAR races and events. She also enjoyed the San Diego Chargers before they left for LA.

As a person, Stacey will be forever remembered as kind, funny, fair, strong, humble, loyal, respectful (though at times irreverent), giving, hard working, and a great friend. She always put the needs of others ahead of her own. Stacey was beloved by so many and will be sorely missed.

Stacey was preceded in death by her beloved father, Don Reynolds; her uncle, John. J. Reynolds; her aunts, Diane Holliday and Frances Reynolds; her grandparents, O.B. and Ethel Mae Reynolds and Cecil and Marie Holliday; and her first cousin, Russell Bryant Reynolds. 

Stacey is survived by her husband, James "Jim" Edward Hover; her stepson, Nolan Ryan Hover; her mother, Janice Janette Reynolds; her brother, Troy Dean Reynolds and wife, Lilliana "Lilly" Rivera Reynolds of Spring, Texas; and her sister, Jantha Reynolds Houston and husband, Samuel Ainsworth Houston of Houston, Texas. Stacey is also survived by two nieces and two nephews, Shane Antonio Reynolds (25), Donald "Donnie" Gray Houston (24), Cecilia "Ceci" Marisa Reynolds (23), and Audrey Grace Houston (23). Stacey is further survived by her "Nana," Minnie Rivera; by her first cousins, Robin Wakefield of Centerville, Texas and Regina Possiot of Cypress, Texas; and a slew of fantastic extended cousins and relatives that make up the Reynolds/Grisham family, all of whom Stacey appreciated and enjoyed.

Pallbearers: Nolan Hover, Troy Reynolds, Sam Houston, Conrad Rivera, Shane Reynolds, Donnie Houston

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to MD Anderson Cancer Center, P.O. Box 4486, Houston, Texas 77210-4486 in memory of Stacey Carol Hover, or to the benevolence of your choice.

Local arrangements are under the guidance of Madisonville Funeral Home, Madisonville, Texas.