Margaret Stahala

Margaret Stahala, age 88 of Boerne, Texas, passed away peacefully on December 18, 2025.

Born Margaret Rose Gentry on June 16, 1937, in San Antonio, Texas, she was known as Maggie, Margie, Rose, and Nanny - never Margaret. Her parents were Rose Anderson Gentry and Willis Gentry.

Maggie was known for her strong faith and adventurous spirit. She had a love of the outdoors that she passed on to her family, especially camping, swimming, hiking and snow-skiing. Her fondest childhood memories were camping beside the Medina River in Castroville, Texas.

At 17, she married Josh Coleman and had five children in 8 years. As a young mother, she could backflip off a rope swing into the Medina River while six months pregnant. Maggie and Josh were married for 22 years before he died of a workplace injury in 1977.

She worked for many years as a registered nurse at the VA Hospital in San Antonio. She became a distance runner in her 40s and ran many local races as well as the New York and Boston Marathons. She loved to volunteer at races and meet her running group for early morning runs at McAlister Park, followed by breakfast tacos.

She married Jim Stahala in 1984 and they were married for 25 years before he died in 2010. Her husband Jim said “If there was a bucket of water, I’d say ‘Uh oh, Maggie’s going to want to swim in it.” Her lifelong love of adventure included cold plunges in Canada, river rafting in Montana, travels to England, and a 70th birthday hike into the Grand Canyon. She taught her family, no matter where you are going, you should always pack a swimsuit.

Her spiritual life and communities were deeply meaningful to her. She attended Alamo Heights Methodist Church with Jim and was a longtime participant in A Search for God study group and A Course in Miracles. She was also a devoted, longtime member of the Association for Research and Enlightenment.

Maggie is survived by her children Nita Coleman (Karl Brandspigel), Shirley Coleman (Allan Barnes), Kathy Webster (Dan), Josh David Coleman (Tina) and Doug Coleman (Celsie) and step-children Sarah Stahala and Martha Nixon. She has 13 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands Lloyd Poteet “Josh” Coleman and Jim Stahala, her brothers Billy and James “Butch” Gentry, and sister Bonnie Sundquist.

A Celebration of Life is being planned for Saturday, May 2, 2026 at McAllister Park in San Antonio from 9-1.

She leaves behind a legacy of strength, joy, and love, carried forward by the family who ran beside her through life. She will be remembered whenever the sun rises on an open trail and whenever her family gathers, grateful for the life she lived so fully.