Beth "Boo-kin" Balman

Beth Leigh Balman, 71, of Dallas, Texas – affectionately known as “Boo-kin” – passed away peacefully on Thursday morning, September 18, 2025. She is survived by her daughter, Jessie (Jeff) Stachowiak, and brother, Sidney Balman Jr., as well as her grandchildren, Reese, Elle, and Will, niece, Mia Balman, and nephew, Sidney (Niki) Balman III. She is also survived by her first cousins, Sammy, Peggy, and Lee Papert.

Born August 19, 1954, to Sidney & Patricia Balman (S.B. & P.B.), she grew up in Dallas, Texas, attended Ursuline Academy, and went on to graduate from Texas Woman’s University, earning her degree in nursing. She was passionate about her career, working as a skilled surgical nurse in Evergreen, Colorado, before returning to Dallas, where she spent many years at Medical City Hospital. She cared about people and showed this through her dedication to her career and social work, even traveling to Bosnia to provide aid to refugees in the mid-1990s.

Once back in Dallas, she married and welcomed her daughter, Jessie. The two shared many adventures together, including trips to Isla Mujeres, St. Lucia, Colorado, Washington, D.C. (to visit family) and countless Sierra Club excursions, even getting Jessie certified as a scuba diver at 12 years old to go scuba diving together in Mexico.

Though life certainly presented its challenges along her path, she was a strong-willed and passionate person throughout. Beth is remembered as a mother, a sister, and a woman who is loved and will be missed. In her final days, she faced her illness with quiet strength, supported by her daughter, brother, and wonderful caregivers.

The family will have a small private service to commemorate her passing. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you please make a donation in her memory to Save the Children (https://www.savethechildren.org).