Cory Lee Stanley, 44, went home to heaven on May 20, 2021.  Wake services will begin at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, May 28, 2021, and will continue until his funeral service, which will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 29, 2021, all at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Box Elder.  Burial will follow in the Rocky Boy Cemetery.  Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.

Cory was born in Great Falls on Aug. 28, 1976, to his proud parents Clement James Stanley and Penny Braach.  He spent some of his childhood years growing up in Dodson, Frazer, Valier, and South Dakota.  Cory was a good son and brother, always lending a helping hand to his family and protecting his younger siblings.  He carried himself with a strong, quiet confidence, and was naturally "cool" without even trying.  In 1994, Cory graduated from Bozeman High School, and later enrolled in the University of Montana.  He was just one class from completing his degree in anthropology, a passion he had since he was young.   He loved old and valuable things, people, and history, and he had a good eye and a kind heart.  Cory later started his own business, Northwinds Tape and Paint.

He became the proud father of Shae Brendan Stanley, his greatest joy and blessing, on June 20, 2001.  Shae quickly became his world, and Cory poured all of his love into his son.  He defined his own happiness by Shae's happiness and the special bond they shared.  The two of them adventured together often, enjoying the great outdoors while mountain biking, fishing, camping, and bonding over their shared passion for bow hunting.  Cory was known for his hunting skills in the mountains, a spark that was ignited as a young boy.  He passed that knowledge on to his loved ones, so badly wanting his son to experience the adrenaline of harvesting a bull elk.  Often, Cory would selflessly call in an elk for his younger brother or son because he was so gifted at doing so.  On one hunting trip in particular, Cory called in a big bull for Shae, and as Shae described, "It came in hot, breathing heavily, and had it tongue sticking out!"  Shae and the bull had a stare-down and he froze in disbelief.  Needless to say, he didn't harvest that bull, but Cory affirmed the reality of hunting, and in his gentle way let him know that sometimes that "just happens".  He was a good teacher and he was patient.  His patience is one of the things that made him such a skilled hunter and beautiful person.  Cory and Shae also had a love for movies.  They were always going to the movie theater with their bucket of popcorn, ready to watch the next best movie.  We are so thankful that Cory had a son who embodies our favorite qualities of his Dad.  Cory also loved to cook.  He took pride in his dishes, and called home to his mom to get his favorite childhood recipes.  Cory loved kids.  He loved Shae with all his heart, and he loved his nieces and nephews.  He was the best uncle!  Cory also loved his long-time best friend and dog, Monte, who joined Cory in Heaven.  They, too, had a very special bond.

Cory leaves behind his beloved son, Shae; parents James (Delores) Stanley and Penny (Dan) Phillips; sisters, Lynette, Brenda, Mia, Brandi, Shilo, and Shelby; brothers, Kyle and Raymond;  Granny Kay Taylor of Ft. Belknap; Grandpa Wally Braach of Missoula; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and many friends.

Cory was preceded in death by his grandparents Martin & Wilma Stanley;  aunt Joyce and  uncle Harvey Stanley; and his great-grandmother Cecelia Ereaux Lankford.