Sister Coila Mae Owensby

Coila Owensby, cherished mother and grandmother, passed to a holier sphere on May 8, 2026, while resting peacefully at home. She had one hand on her devoted pug, Willie Nelson, and the other in the tender warmth and care of her daughter, Jerry Owensby. Coila would have been 97 this summer. Born on August 2, 1929, in Jamestown, New York, she has lived firsthand the hardships of the Great Depression as well as the joy and prosperity that followed.

Coila was born to Mary Ellen Wiltbank and Ray Powers and lived the first six years of her life in New York. Mary Ellen and Coila then trekked cross country by train to return to Eastern Arizona where her extended family lived in Springerville, Eagar, and St. Johns. Mary Ellen later married Alma Christopher Naegle who served as the sheriff of Apache County during Coila’s school days. She lived on the Naegle ranch during the summers. During the school year, she lived in Eagar with her grandmother, Nora Pearson Wiltbank. She remembers her grandmother always wearing an apron and serving pie for breakfast, though her favorite breakfast was cornbread, milk, and onions.

After graduating from St. Johns High School in 1948, she attended the University of Arizona in Tucson before moving to Texas at age 20. She had always heard how great Texas was and she wanted to see for herself if it were true. Not only did she fall in love with Texas, but she fell in love with Bobby Gene Owensby and they were married on September 20, 1952, in Dallas, Texas. Coila worked for two physicians while Bob was working his way through Baylor Dental School as a night clerk in the apartment building where she lived. Bob recalled seeing her coming and going with her many dates until he finally had the courage to leave a note in her box asking her out.

After graduating from dental school, Bob and Coila moved to San Antonio, Texas, where they met Kenneth and Mickey Burton at McCreless Medical Center. Bob practiced dentistry and Kenneth practiced family medicine. A close and lasting friendship quickly grew and later, Kenneth and Bob built a new medical complex together on the south side of San Antonio. Kenneth delivered their three girls, Bobby, Jill and Jerry.

When Coila first moved to San Antonio, she was active in the only ward there at the time, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which met in the Bailey Chapel. She held many leadership callings in Primary, Mutual and Relief Society. She enjoyed her many and longtime friendships with the original San Antonio saints! She helped the church grow with her unshakable love for the gospel and her discipleship. When the new First Ward Chapel was announced, Coila, along with fellow ward members, sponsored fundraisers to raise money for the building. During that era, members were asked to provide a percentage of the building cost as well as assist with the literal construction.

In partnership with the church and the city of San Antonio, Coila was asked to create and implement a genealogy section in the San Antonio downtown public library. It was a volunteer position. She was in charge of staffing and training volunteers and teaching the patrons how to research their genealogy. This was during the days of microfiche and hand-written letters.

Coila was active in the Texas Dental Auxiliary for many years. Side by side, she assisted Bob in the free dental clinic and also participated in various volunteer services to the community through the auxiliary. Coila and Bob were foster parents for the State of Texas for many years and it was through that program that they adopted their fourth daughter, Julie, who was six years old at the time.

Bob and Coila were deeply committed to community service. They sponsored weekly Family Home Evenings at an assisted living facility for years because they heard some of the residents never had a visitor. They helped and befriended everyone around them.

After retiring, they moved to Bob’s beloved New Mexico for a short time, but then moved to Lubbock, Texas when Jerry started medical school at Texas Tech University. There, Coila served as Relief Society president, and they enjoyed being part of Jerry’s medical journey. They also got to see Bobby and Jill often, as they both lived in Dallas at the time. Bob and Coila then moved to Mesa, Arizona to settle near family, including her brother, Al Naegle and his wife, Carol.

Coila served for more than 20 years in the Mesa Arizona Temple. She also served a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Manchester, England just before she turned 70. When she was in her 90s, Coila, along with her girls, Bobby, Jill, and Jerry, served with family friends David and Susan Udall in the English Connect Service Mission - pilot program. She thoroughly enjoyed visiting with Spanish-speaking missionaries in Panama using a video internet app to help them learn English. It was the quintessential match for Coila, as the Owensby family is known for their love of visiting with family and friends. She didn’t know a stranger. Coila left an unparalleled legacy of faith, love, and laughter.

Coila is preceded in death by her husband, Bob; daughter, Julie; and son-in-law, Scott. Coila is survived by her daughters, Bobby, Jerry, Jill and son-in-law, Glen; and her brother, Al. Grandchildren: Sarah, Nathan, Jacob, Chanel, Kyle, Katrina, Chrissy, Missy, Jennifer, Shawn, and Steven; Great-grandchildren: Samantha, Allegra, Eden, Lucas, Caleb, James, and Ben. Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.