Emilio was born on January 18, 1963 in Laredo, TX to Francisco and Margarita Cordova. He moved as a child to Nevada, where he attended Moapa Valley High School. He attended a dance in Hereford, TX, where he met his wife of 39 years, Veronica Fuentes. Together, they settled in Amarillo, where Emilio worked as a skillful welder for many years, Reyes Trailer Sales being among his favorite. He made lifelong friends there, as well as being able to weld horse trailers, a passion of his. He was known to his family and friends to be a "Mexican George Strait." This was because of his love for westerns like Lonesome Dove and John Wayne movies and his love for horses. He proudly told others about caring for Wayne Newton's horses at one point in his life.

The thing that Emilio was most proud of, was his family. He was known to be the loudest grandpa in the bleachers cheering on his grandchildren at every game. He was a loving husband and an amazing father and will be missed so much by his family and friends.

He is survived by his wife, Veronica Fuentes Cordova of Amarillo; 3 daughters, Kristy Cordova and husband Robert Hill, Yvonne Chavez and husband Jorge Chavez and Monica Vazquez and husband Brian Vazquez; 2 sons, Emilio Cordova, Jr. and wife Anastasia Prieto and Juan F. Cordova and wife Deidra Garcia; 7 sisters, Irma Reyes, Sylvia Villareal and husband Ismael, Genoveva Reyes-Gonzales and husband David, Francisca Cordova Musgrove, Oralia Cordova Muns and husband Roy D, Ofelia Cordova Hernandez and husband Leonard and Leslie Nowak and husband Guy; 2 brothers, Domingo Reyes and wife Sylvia and Emeterio Cordova and wife Rosa and 20 grandchildren.

Emilio is preceded in death by his parents, Francisco Cordova and Margarita Reyes-Cordova; grandparents, Santiago and Nieves Cordova and Margarito and Angelita Reyes as well as his nephew, Scott Fuentes.