Martha Colemere Stipp

Martha “Muffie” Colemere Stipp

December 18, 1949 – January 17, 2024

Martha passed away peacefully while surrounded by loved ones on January 17, 2024, following a fearless battle with cancer.

Muffie was born on December 18, 1949, in San Antonio, Texas to Hollis E. Colemere Jr. and Dorothy (Roddy) Colemere. She spent her youth enjoying the outdoors while exploring Hill Country Village and surrounding areas with her two beloved horses. During high school, Muffie met and started dating her future husband, Oliver Russell “Rusty” Stipp, with whom she would share the rest of her life.

Muffie graduated from St. Mary’s University with a degree in Elementary Education and English, and she went on to teach at an underprivileged elementary school with the goal of helping others. Muffie and Rusty were married in August of 1976 and later welcomed their only child, Valerie. Muffie retired from teaching to fully dedicate her time and energy to raising Valerie, but frequently reminded that “once a teacher, always a teacher.” Muffie prided herself in loving Valerie’s friends as her own, and affectionately referred to Valerie’s best friends as “my babies.” Muffie always provided a safe space where everyone could unabashedly be themselves.

Muffie had many passions, including reading, learning, teaching, crafting, painting, researching genealogy, and advocating for wildlife. Her lifelong love of animals was evidenced by her affinity for cats, dogs (she loved her Dalmatians), horses, and—later in life—advocating for the Garden Ridge, Texas deer population. Muffie resided in Garden Ridge for over 30 years with her family, and she successfully protected the city’s wildlife and rural aesthetic by becoming politically active in 2016.

Muffie was admired for maintaining a positive attitude toward life and its challenges, despite struggling for decades with various autoimmune conditions and physical limitations. Her positive attitude held strong even as she bravely fought a rare form of cancer for over two years. She endured countless treatments and remained in several research trials with the intent of helping others who may one day benefit from such research.

The greatest joy in Muffie’s later years were her two grandsons and being “Ommie: like the mommy, but with no rules.” Always a teacher, Ommie created thoughtful lessons and materials for her grandsons and played an important role in their upbringing. One reason Muffie was such an amazing Ommie was because she remained young at heart, and she was never afraid to have fun regardless of the setting. Even during cancer treatments, you could find her laughing on a seesaw with her son-in-law or playing in a bounce house with her grandsons. She will be terribly missed.

Muffie was preceded in death by her parents, Hollis and Dorothy Colemere. She is survived by her husband, Oliver Russell Stipp; daughter, Valerie Stipp Przyojski (Daniel); grandsons DC Przyojski and Case Przyojski; brother Joseph Colemere (Linda), and other family. She is also survived by many treasured friends.

The family would like to extend its sincere appreciation to Dr. Sharon Wilks and everyone at NEXT Oncology for their endless compassion and care, as well as Marcela and everyone at Christus VNA Hospice, and Shema, Keshia, and Kierra with Comfort Keepers Home Care for assisting the family in their goal of providing Muffie a peaceful and dignified passing.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Muffie’s name to either Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation in Kendalia, Texas (https://www.wildlife-rescue.org/donate/), or cholangiocarcinoma.org.