In Memoriam: Allison Julia Nathan Getz

Allison Julia Nathan Getz peacefully passed away on Monday, October 10, 2023, at her home in Beaumont, Texas.

Allison was born on April 21, 1960 in Austin, Texas to Iris and Jerry Nathan. She was a loving and devoted wife to her husband, Mike, and loving daughter, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and a stranger to no one.

Allison was proud of being a 5th generation Texan, dating back to 1896 when her greatgreat-grandfather, Rabi Levy, arrived in Beaumont.

Allison had an idyllic childhood attending schools in the South Park Independent School District.

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, which resulted in her two children, Lee and Buffin. 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 take 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 were 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 t-shirts in the closet and wore purple and gold to show 100% support to Lee’s alma mater, LSU.

Allison not only raised her children and earned accolades for her job performance as a financial advisor, but she also pursued her passion for volunteerism.

When her son, Lee, joined Cub Scouts, she volunteered to be a Den Leader and she was ultimately selected to serve on the Advisory Board of the Three Rivers Council, Boy Scouts of America because of her enthusiasm and leadership.

She served as president and/ or board member of the Junior League of Beaumont, Sisterhood of Temple Emanuel, Symphony League of Beaumont, Temple Emanuel (where she received the Star of Emanuel Award for service to the Congregation and received the Rosinger Humanitarian Award just last year) and Southeast Texas Tennis Association (where she was honored with the Leadership Award for her service in 2012), United States Tennis Association – Texas Section Executive Committee, Beaumont Children’s Museum, and Crimestoppers (where she was awarded Crimestopper of the Year in 2015).

In 2014, an opening occurred in the Jefferson County Tax Assessor-Collectors Office and Allison was nominated to fill the unexpired term, won the election of 2014 convincingly, and was re-elected in 2016 and 2020.

During her term, in addition to many changes and improvements, she 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.

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 2021 by the State Tax Assessor-Collectors Association.

Somewhere along the line, Allison took up knitting and, unsurprisingly, became very proficient. Allison would knit blankets, sweaters, pot scrubbers, 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, parents, aunts and uncles. 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 who are left behind.

She is survived by her husband, Mike Getz; 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, Zoë 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 Allison’s family and friends was held Saturday, October 14, 2023, at Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont. Her funeral service was Sunday, October 15, 2023, at Temple Emanuel, 1120 Broadway, Beaumont, with her interment following at Hebrew Rest Cemetery, Beaumont.