Ellen Elizabeth Getten

Ellen Elizabeth Getten of Houston, Texas, passed away on July 4, 2025, along with her Bubble Inn cabinmates, counselors, and friends while attending her first year at Camp Mystic. She was a bright light for her family and friends and is now dancing with her friends in heaven.

Ellen was the beloved daughter of Jennifer Wilson Getten and Douglas Vandever Getten and the best friend of her dear sister, Gwynne Olivia Getten. Ellen was born on June 7, 2016, in Houston and was a joy to everyone around her from the moment she entered the world. She attended preschool at the House of Pooh Corner and loved every minute of her time there. She then went to St. John's School, starting in kindergarten, and was so proud to wear her red uniform on the first day of school and to
walk into school with her sister, Gwynne, and her Giraud cousins. Every day, she was excited to go to school and to see her friends and teachers and found so much happiness there. She worked on her tennis game, attempted to hit a golf ball, and swam and medaled on the Mean Green swim team, but most of all she loved to play Roblox with her sister. Ellen was a friend to everyone and had friends from St. Martin's Episcopal Church, St. John the Divine Episcopal Church, the Houston Country Club,
Camp Mystic, and her neighborhood and beyond. She loved them all dearly.

Ellen was beautiful on the inside and the outside. She had precious freckles that she proudly collected over the years and wore glasses that distinguished her from other girls. She ate her meals with gusto, which was evident on her clothes most days, and especially loved pasta with red sauce and gelato, which she discovered in Italy on a trip with her grandparents. She gave every person a hug and would not let anyone leave her presence without a huge one. There were no strangers in her life, only people she had not met yet and hugged. Her big sister was her biggest cheerleader and her very best friend in life. Gwynne will miss Ellen every day.

Ellen loved to dance and make up silly dances with her sister and cousins. The dance parties at Bubble Inn at night were some of her happiest times at camp. She also loved time with her parents and sister-not only big experiences like a trip to Walt Disney World, where she celebrated her ninth birthday, but also quiet moments like snuggling on the sofa, hugging her family of avocado stuffed animals, and watching American Idol. Baking cookies and watching Hallmark movies at her grandparents' house were highlights of her weekends. Ellen woke up happy, went to sleep happy, and made everyone around her happy. Though her nine years on earth was brief, she will always be remembered for her love of others and her sweet smile. Ellen would want everyone to give more hugs.

Ellen is survived by her parents, Jennie and Doug Getten; sister, Gwynne Getten; grandparents, Jennifer and Trey Wilson and Nancy and Tom Getten; aunt and uncle Abbie and Will Giraud and their children, Charlie and Lucy; uncle Walt Wilson; aunt and uncle Megan and Ted Getten and their children, Ella and Max; aunt and uncle Liz and Chad Atwood and their children, Hobs, Lee, and Lucy.

She is also survived by extended family members, godparents, and devoted friends.

A visitation will be held from 5:30pm to 7:30pm on Tuesday, July 15 at St. Luke's United Methodist Church (3471 Westheimer). A funeral service will be held for family and friends at 2pm on Wednesday, July 16 at St. Martin's Episcopal Church (717 Sage Road). A private graveside service will be held for the family before the funeral.

In lieu of flowers, the Getten family would like donations to be made in Ellen's honor to her beloved St. John's School, sjs.org/in-memory-of-ellen-getten-35 or to the Ellen Elizabeth Getten Gift Fund (for more information, email ellen@henrybraggco.com).