Allison Julia Nathan Getz

Allison Julia Getz peacefully passed away on Monday, October 10, 2023, at her home in Beaumont, Texas. She was surrounded by family with her husband, Mike, and her brother, Irl, holding her hands, at the time of her passing.
Allison was born on April 21, 1960, in Austin, Texas, to Iris and Jerry Nathan. She was a loving and devoted wife, daughter, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and a stranger to no one.
Allison was proud of being a 5 generation Texan, dating back to 1896 when her great grandfather, J.J. Nathan, arrived in Beaumont.
Allison had an idyllic childhood attending schools in the South Park Independent School district including Regina-Howell Elementary, Marshall Middle School and Forest Park High School from which she graduated Cum Laude in 1978. Along the way she participated in Bluebirds, took piano lessons, and spent several years learning dance routines at the acclaimed Sproule School of Dance, which was located on the site of the present-day Beaumont City Hall. Allison was a cheerleader while at Marshall but her greatest enjoyment growing up was playing tennis, whether it be at the Beaumont Country Club, Rogers Park, or the West End YMCA. Allison lettered as a member of the girls' varsity tennis roster at Forest Park.
Summers were spent on road trips with her parents and brother and spending time at summer camps including the T-Bar-M tennis facility. While in Beaumont during the summer, lazy days around the swimming pool at the Beaumont Country Club was the order of the day. Junior and senior years in high school were filled with parties and participation in the Neches River Festival where Allison was voted Miss Congeniality by the other participants.
Allison learned at an early age that helping others was a privilege that we are all given if we take the opportunity to do so. One of her favorite quotes is from Winston Churchill, who said, "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give". Allison embodied this her entire life.
Growing up with a father who was a cheerleader at the University of Texas, it was virtually pre-ordained that Allison would become a Longhorn and she had the time of her life while on the 40 acres. She was a member of the "Eyes of Texas" spirit organization, and Alpha Epsilon Phi sorority. She graduated with a BBA in finance in 1982.
Allison married shortly after graduating from UT and she would tell you that the best thing about her first marriage was that it resulted in her two children, Lee and Buffin. Being a single parent can be incredibly difficult but with Allison, there was no complaining or feeling sorry for herself. Allison unselfishly dedicated herself to educating, nourishing, protecting, and perpetually transporting her children to countless activities.
She would spend hours sewing and dressing her daughter in dance costumes and then taking her to lessons in the same building she had attended with the same teacher, Mrs. Judith Sproule. It was vital to Allison that Buffin experience the same formative lessons that so many young ladies learned about manners and dancing. The same held true when Buffin became a cheerleader. Allison was able to get a vicarious thrill reliving her own experiences as a cheerleader.
Athletics was her son's main interest, and she devoted the same time and intensity to Lee's efforts in baseball, soccer, golf, and football. She traveled all over Southeast Texas and beyond with him attending practices, pep rallies, games, and tournaments. Through her unending support of his athletics, Allison assured Lee's strong work ethic and sense of teamwork. She even put her burnt orange tee shirts in the closet and wore purple and gold to show 100 percent support to Lee's alma mater, LSU.
While Allison had hoped to be able to devote her efforts into raising her children 24/7, economics dictated that she was going to have to find a job. With her degree in finance and her great personality, she was easily able to land a position as a financial advisor, first at PaineWebber and later with Merrill Lynch. The job suited her perfectly as the markets opened each day at 8:30 a.m. and closed at 3 p.m., mirroring her children's school hours and allowing her time for their numerous extracurricular activities. More importantly, she always had the time to listen to her children and be available to them for anything they needed.
Finding herself suddenly single with two small children and entering the work force left Allison with little time to contemplate having a social life for herself until her friend, Lori Alter, decided to play matchmaker. Lori knew Mike Getz, a new attorney that had just begun practicing law in Beaumont. Like Allison, Mike was suddenly single with a small child and like Allison, he was of the Jewish faith. As it happened, Mike noticed Allison one Friday night at synagogue. He knew of her but didn't really know her. Mike asked Lori about Allison and she suggested that he ask her out. When a nervous Mike called Allison to ask her if she would like to go out, she replied, "I'd love to". Over dinner a few days later, Allison and Mike realized that they had numerous areas of common interests and were kindred spirits. They also both realized the enormous stress involved in working and parenting and trying to make a marriage work. They opted to date exclusively until their children were out of high school but lived separately until they were married in a joyous, traditional Jewish wedding on November 22, 2008.
Between that first date in November of 1993 and her wedding, Allison not only raised her children and earned accolades for her job performance as a financial advisor, but she also pursued her passion of volunteerism.
Even before Mike came on the scene, Allison had successfully chaired the Spindletop Ball, which was the predecessor to the Cattle Baron's Ball, in 1991 to benefit the American Cancer Society and had worked with the Symphony League in their signature fund raising event, Symphony of Trees.
When her son, Lee, joined Cub Scouts, she volunteered to be a Den Leader and she ultimately was selected to serve on the Advisory Board of the Three Rivers Council, Boy Scouts of America because of her enthusiasm and leadership.
She joined the Junior League of Beaumont where she was named Active of the Year in 1999 and as an older adult, was named Sustainer of the Year for Junior League in 2014.
She was President of the Symphony League of Beaumont from 1997-1999 and subsequently served as President of the Symphony of Southeast Texas.
She served as Sisterhood President of Temple Emanuel from 1998 to 2000. She joined the Board of Temple Emanuel in 2010 and was elected to serve as President of the Congregation from 2016 to 2018. She received the Star of Emanuel award for service to the Congregation in 2014 and received the Rosinger Humanitarian Award just last year.
She served on the board of Garth House from 2002 – 2009, serving a term as President. She served on the Kelly High School Board from 2003 to 2006 and earned the Outstanding Service to Kelly Award in 2004.
Allison was recognized by the Rotary Club of Beaumont with the Service above Self award in 2003 and by the Beaumont Enterprise with the Jefferson Award in 2008.
From 2005 to 2012, Allison served on the Board of the Fire Museum of Texas and served several terms as President of that organization. It was during her tenure on the Board that the Pete Shelton gazebo across the street from the Downtown Fire Station was constructed.
Allison continued her passion for tennis as an adult, both on the court and off. She came in first place in the Women's Adult Singles in the 3.0 division of a Major Zone Championship in 2001, the Charlie McCleary Waco Open Tournament. That year Allison finished fourth in the 3.0 Women's Tennis ranking in the entire State of Texas.
As an older adult, Allison played tennis more for fun than competitively, but continued to serve behind the scenes. She was selected to be on the board of the Southeast Texas Tennis Association in 2007 and was soon thereafter elected to be president of the organization. She played a vital role in the Beaumont Municipal Tennis Center expansion to include covered tennis courts and a new pro shop. She was honored by SETTA with the Leadership Award for her service in 2012.
Following her service to the local tennis community, Allison was selected to serve at the State level. She was named to the United States Tennis Association -Texas Section Executive Committee in 2012 and continued serving until 2019.
Allison was also elected President of the Beaumont Children's Museum in 2012. When she first took office, the BCM was struggling financially and did not have a brick-and-mortar home. During Allison's tenure, the organization secured their current location at the Beaumont Civic Center and through a series of fund raisers, became financially stable.
Allison served on the board of Crimestoppers for several years and was awarded Crimestopper of the Year in 2015.
Following some brazen burglaries in the Dowlen West addition in 2013, Allison helped organize the Dowlen West Neighborhood Association and of course was named president. She presided over the monthly neighborhood meetings from the creation of the organization until last year when her health would no longer allow it. In addition to helping start the Dowlen West Neighborhood Association in 2013, Allison also chaired Le Gran Bal to benefit the Arts and Music Department at Lamar University.
Other organizations that Allison has been president of include: Beaumont Heritage Society; Beaumont Ballet Theater Guild; the Gallery Guild for the Art Museum of Southeast Texas; Golden Triangle Republican Women; Some Other Place; Jefferson County Bar Auxiliary; Jefferson County Texas Exes, and Young Audiences. Other organizations in which Allison has served in a board capacity include: All Saint's Parent Association; Anayat House; Family Services of Southeast Texas; Gift of Life; Friends of the Arts at Lamar University; and the United Way.
In 2014, an opening occurred in the Jefferson County Tax Assessor's Office and Allison was nominated by the Jefferson County Republican Party as their candidate to fill the unexpired term. The election was held in November 2014 and Allison won convincingly. She was re-elected in 2016 and 2020 and during her term, she has overseen modernization of the office with an upgraded queuing system; installation of a camera system with security monitors in all three of her offices; created the first website for the tax office, redesigned the tax statements to be more legible and easier to read, made it possible to get your car auto registrations renewed at HEB and Kroger so you would not have to go to the tax office, created an interested buyer program to get county owned property back on the tax rolls; had active shooter training in all of her offices and oversaw the expansion and the addition of a drive through window at the Mid County Tax Office.
With all the above accomplishments, it should come as no surprise that Allison was named Tax Assessor of the Year for the entire State of Texas in October of 2021 by the State Tax Assessor Collectors Association.
Throughout all of Allison's years of volunteer work and public service, Allison and Mike made time for each other. Whether it was playing tennis in the back yard, going out to eat, going to see the Astros play a game, going on a trip or to a charity fund raiser or simply staying at home and watching television – Allison and Mike enjoyed and loved each other.
Somewhere along the line, Allison took up knitting and unsurprisingly, became very proficient. Allison would knit blankets, sweaters, pot scrubber's, socks, scarves – truly a talented woman.
As Allison and Mike's children became adults, got married and started having children of their own, Allison experienced a whole new level of love – the love of being "Grammy" to her granddaughters, Sadie, Samantha Joe, Alice and Goldie. Allison would regularly go to Houston to visit the three granddaughters living there. Her granddaughter, Goldie, came later and there is no doubt she would have made numerous trips to Pflugerville where she lived if her illness had not intervened.
Despite her incredibly busy schedule, Allison always made time to check on her Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles and Parents. She was truly the Matriarch of the family offering assistance, wisdom, advice and security.
Allison was a Renaissance Woman with a thirst and desire for new knowledge. Her inquisitive mind and unlimited energy and stamina made her a force of nature.
Allison left an indelible mark on this Earth that will live on for an eternity, but she will be desperately missed by those of us that are left behind.
She is survived by her loving husband, Mike Getz; her son, Tipton Lee Golias and his wife, Suzy, and daughter, Samantha Joe, of Sugarland, Texas; daughter, Ann Elizabeth Golias Reynolds ("Buffin") and her husband, Rudy, and daughters, Sadie and Alice of Houston, Texas; brother, Irl Nathan and his wife, Tica, of Austin, Texas and daughter, Zoe Nathan, of Houston, Texas and son, Jake Nathan, of Austin, Texas; son in law, Jacob Getz and his wife, Kelsey, and daughter, Marigold ("Goldie") of Pflugerville, Texas; parents, Iris and Jerry Nathan of Beaumont, Texas; and sister in law, Karen Skolnik and her husband, Marty, of Houston, Texas.
The family would like to give special thanks to Allison's caregivers: Cristy Burnham, Lourdes Anderson, Christina Steele, Maribel Frederick, Ezra Davis, Maria Martinez, and Tracy Bradford. These ladies loved and cared for Allison in the most compassionate, delicate, and respectful manner. And to Kristina, Rhonda, and Elizabeth and the entire staff at Altus who likewise were so tender and merciful with our precious Allison.
The family also expresses appreciation for the doctors and nurses at Methodist and MD Anderson Hospitals in Houston, Texas, who made Allison feel welcome and secure as well as all the physicians and nurses of Beaumont who assisted Allison in her journey.
Memorial contributions to honor Allison may be made to Some Other Place, P.O. Box 0843, Beaumont, Texas 77704; Gift of Life, 2390 Dowlen Road, Beaumont, Texas 77706; or Symphony of Southeast Texas, P.O. Box 12576, Beaumont, Texas 77726.
A gathering of Mrs. Getz' family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Saturday, October 14, 2023, at Broussard's, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont. Her funeral service will be 12:00 p.m., Sunday, October 15, 2023, at Temple Emanuel, 1120 Broadway, Beaumont, with her interment to follow at Hebrew Rest Cemetery, Beaumont.
Please use the link below to watch the service via Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/81160973621?from=join#success