Texas flood victims: from young campers to a father who saves his family, what we know about lost lives

Texas flood victims: from young campers to a father who saves his family, what we know about lost lives

The young campers at Camp Mestic and a dad saving their family were among the dead dozens in the historical sudden floods that were torn in the center of Texas during the festive weekend.

This is what we know about lost lives:

Chloe Childress

Chloe Childress, counselor of Camp Mystic, was killed during the devastating floods in Hunt, Texas, during the holiday weekend, according to a representative of her high school.

The Kinkoid school

Chloe Childress, counselor at Camp Mystic, was ready to attend the University of Texas in Austin in autumn.

She “lived a beautiful life that saturated those around her with contagious joy, permanent endless grace and faith,” said her family in a statement. “Returning as counselor to the place he loved so much, Chloe was anxious to dedicate their summer days to love and advise young women in Camp Mystic.”

Jonathan Eades, the head of the Kinkoid school, of which he graduated earlier this year, remembered Childress as someone who had a “remarkable way to make people feel view” and “constant compassion that established a room.”

“Whether sharing their own challenges to relieve someone’s burden or encourage a teammate or classmate for a difficult day, Chloe made room for others to feel safe, valued and brave. He understood what meant being part of a community, and more than that, he helped build one,” Eades wrote in a letter to the school community.

Childress “lost his life defending this selfless and fierce commitment to others,” said Eades.

“A loyal and dear friend of all who knew her, Chloe led with empathy. Her honesty gave others the courage to speak. Her resistance helped others to move forward. Her joy, so present in all the little things, reminded them of all who knew her that they continued to appear with heart,” he said.

Jane Ragsdale

Flood victim, Jane Ragsdale.

Campes hills for girls

Jane Ragsdale was the director of The Heart or ‘The Hills Camp for Girls.

“We at the camp are stunned and deeply sad for Jane’s death,” said Heart or ‘The Hills Camp in a statement. “She embodied the spirit of the heart of the hills and was exactly the type of strong and cheerful woman that the camp aimed to develop with the girls confirmed to us every summer.”

Julian Ryan

Victim of the flood, Julian Ryan.

Connie Salas/Facebook

Julian Ryan, 27, died after trying to help her family escape her trailer in Ingram, according to her sister, Connie Salas.

Ryan and his fiancee woke up early on Friday to the water to the ankles inside his house, and in a few moments, the water rose to the waist level, he said.

When their mattress began to float, the couple placed their children of 13 months and 6 years at the top of security, Salas said. The bedroom door, closed swollen of water pressure, would not open.

In a desperate attempt to escape, Ryan tried to break a window and suffered a severe cut on his arm, Salas said.

He began to bleed profusely, Salas said, and when the water rose to his chin, Ryan’s mother shouted for help.

Ryan lost consciousness before the aid could come, he said.

“I love you. I’m very sorry,” they were Ryan’s last words to his fiancee when he realized that he was not going to survive, the family said.

“He didn’t die in vain,” Salas told ABC News. “A hero died.”

Katheryn Eads

Flood victim, Katheryn Eads.

Katheryn Eads

Katheryn Eads and her husband were camping in an RV when they separated in the waters of the floods, her daughter said.

“Dr. Katheryn Eads lived a full life, shortened too much,” said the EADS family in a statement. “It was an incredible wife, daughter, mother, grandmother and a person who spent her life helping children, from those in the parenting care system at the beginning of her career to those in school, both in early education and psychologist and in the university as a professor. Trying to discover our lives without it is a possibility that we have never planned to face and we will always miss her.”

Hanna Lawrence and Rebecca Lawrence

Victims of flooding, Hannah and Rebecca Lawrence.

The Lawrence family

The mystic victims of the Hanna Lawrence and Rebecca Lawrence camp were 8 -year -old twin sisters of Dallas.

His 14 -year -old sister Harper survived floods, said his family.

“It has been an unimaginable moment for all of us,” said his grandfather, David Lawrence Jr. “Hanna and Rebecca gave their parents John, Lacy and his sister Harper, and everything in our family, so much joy. They and that joy can never be forgotten.”

Dick Eastland

Flood victim, Dick Eastland.

Mystical camp

Dick Eastland, who served as director of Camp Mystic with his wife, died trying to save the lives of his campers, according to public officials.

“If I was not going to die of natural causes, this was the only other way, saving the girls who loved and careful,” his grandson, George Eastland, wrote on Instagram. “A husband, father, grandfather and mentor of thousands of young women, no longer walks this land, but its impact will never leave the lives that it touched.”

He called his grandfather a “dear friend, fishery friend, hunting guide, golf companion, avid Fan -Highter fan of Texas, my #1 fanatic and, above all: a hero.”

“What I will take is your positive attitude, the heart of service and the ability to remain faithful in the most difficult moments,” George Eastland wrote. “When fighting cancer until the death of his son James, you showed me how a strong Christian man looks. You loved others when they did not love you, and you were so fast to help when someone in the camp had the slightest inconveniences. Although I am devastated, I cannot say that I am surprised that you have sacrificed your life with the hopes that another person is saved.”

He “made everyone feel safe and seen,” said former Camp Minister Ryan Robinson counselor ABC News Live.

“He is really the most selfless and friendly father figure of thousands of girls,” Robinson said. “I had the privilege of teaching fishing kinds with him in Camp Mystic, and those are really some of my favorite memories of life. I felt lucky every day I had to talk to Dick.”

Sarah Marsh

Sarah Marsh, 8, from Mountain Brook, Alabama, was a campist at Camp Mystic, said Mountain Brook mayor Stewart Welch.

“This is an unimaginable loss for his family, his school and our entire community. Sarah’s death is a pain shared by all of us, and our hearts are with those who knew and loved her,” said the mayor in a statement.

Alabama Senator Katie Britt wrote on social networks that “keeps her family in our thoughts and prayers during this unimaginable time.”

Janie Hunt

Janie Hunt, 9, was also among the victims. Georgia’s representative, Buddy Carter, said Janie was Cousins ​​with her granddaughters, who survived floods.

“God of grace & Comfort, we thank you for our beautiful niece, Janie Hunt. Thanks for the special place he occupied in all our hearts, “Janie’s aunt, Libby Hunt, wrote on social networks.” We thank you for the love in which he was born and for the care in which his beloved parents gave him. “

“As we remember the times of love & Laughs, we thank you for the sweet love that we all share with Darling, Little Janie, “he continued.” We continue to pray, Camp Mystic, The Hill Country And for those who have died and their families And those that still are missing. “

Blair Harber and Brooke Harber

The Blair Harber sisters, 13, and Brooke Harber, 11, who stayed with their family near the Guadalupe River, were in the attic of their cabin with their rosaries when the floods began, according to the Catholic community of St. Rita in Dallas. The bodies of the sisters met 15 miles away the next day.

Blair, an eighth grade student, “had the friendliest heart and loved to serve others,” said the Catholic community of St. Rita in a statement.

She was an “outstanding student” who took advanced classes, according to the statement, and she “served as student ambassador, proudly guiding future families through school.”

He participated in yearbooks, speeches and drama, volleyball, basketball, lacrosse and porristas, according to the statement, and planned to audition for the main role in the eighth grade game.

Brooke, a sixth grade student, was also an “excellent student” and was a “soccer player, basketball, volleyball and lacrosse,” said the statement.

“She also loved speech and drama and had a particular gift for improvisation that brought smiles and laughs to those around her,” the statement said. “Brooke never met a stranger and loved everyone who met.”

Reece Zunker and Paula Zunker

Reece Zunker, soccer coach and teacher in Kerville, Texas, and his wife, Paula Zunker, died in floods, according to the independent school district of Kerville.

He reported to his missing children, said the district.

Reece Zunker football team called him “Mentor, Master and Model to follow” that “he rebuilt the football program and left a legacy.”

“Reece was a passionate educator and a beloved soccer coach,” the school district said in a statement. “His unwavering dedication to our students, athletes and the Tivy community played innumerable lives and will never be forgotten. Paula, a former Tivy teacher, also left a lasting brand in our community. The care and impact he shared with his students continues to feel, even years later.”

Jeff Wilson

Jeff Wilson, a three decades high school teacher in Humble, Texas, died in the floods, and his wife and son were reported as missing, said his brother -in -law, according to Humble Independent School District.

Wilson “was a beloved teacher and co -worker for many and will be deeply surprised,” said the school district. “He continues to maintain his whole family and ours, in his prayers.”

Camilla Alcini, Christopher Looft and Gabrielle Vinick of ABC News contributed to this report.

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