Chiefs Owner Clark Hunt’s 9-Year-Old Cousin Killed in Texas Flooding
“My heart aches for our extended family and friends who lost daughters—for every life lost and every family shattered by the floods in Texas,” Gracie Hunt said.
CEO Clark Hunt of the Kansas City Chiefs looks on prior to Super Bowl LVIII against the San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Feb. 11, 2024. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Catastrophic flooding in Central Texas has left at least 119 people dead and more than 170 still missing.
Among the victims is 9-year-old Janie Hunt, a Highland Park ISD student and relative of Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt, whose family is now mourning alongside dozens of others impacted by the disaster.
A Family’s Tragedy
Family members confirmed to numerous news outlets that Janie Hunt was one of 27 campers and counselors killed when flash floods swept through Camp Mystic, a girls’ summer camp in Hunt, Texas.
Janie, who attended Robert S. Hyer Elementary in Highland Park, was remembered by her family as a “precious little Hunt cousin,” according to a post by Tavia Hunt, Clark Hunt’s wife.
“Our hearts are broken by the devastation from the floods in Wimberley and the tragic loss of so many lives—including a precious little Hunt cousin, along with several friend’s little girls,” Tavia Hunt wrote on social media.
The impact of the flooding has been felt deeply in Highland Park, where two other students, Lila Bonner and Eloise Peck, also lost their lives.
In response, residents have wrapped trees in green ribbons to honor those killed, and the Highland Park High School Parent Teacher Association is distributing ribbons for families wishing to participate in the tribute, the association said in an Instagram post.
“We have heard stories of incredible bravery, miracles, as well as profound loss. Please know that the Scots stand together offering our deepest love and unwavering support,” the association wrote, referencing the “Scots Challenge,” which is a fundraising effort run by the PTA to help bridge the gap between state funding and actual resources that are needed by the school.
Highland Park Independent School District in its own post shared on Facebook, “Our hearts are heavy as we share the tragic news of the devastating floods that occurred in the Texas Hill Country. Counseling services will be offered this week to assist students and staff as they navigate this difficult time.”
Counselors are available at Boone Elementary, with additional resources provided for those in need.
Faith Amid Suffering
The Hunt family has turned to faith as they process their grief.
In a heartfelt post, Gracie Hunt, daughter of Clark and cousin of Janie, reflected, “Some days, it’s hard to understand how the world can hold both so much beauty and so much pain. How can the same God who created the stars and set the planets in motion allow such deep suffering?” she wrote.
“My heart aches for our extended family and friends who lost daughters—for every life lost and every family shattered by the floods in Texas,” she continued. "I don’t have easy answers, but I do know this: following Jesus doesn’t spare us from pain—but it means we never face it alone."
Tavia Hunt echoed these sentiments, writing, “If your heart is broken, I assure you God is near. He is gentle with your wounds. And He is still worthy—even when your soul is struggling to believe it. Trust doesn’t mean you’re over the pain; it means you’re handing it to the only One who can hold it with love and restore what was lost. For we do not grieve as those without hope.”
The Toll at Camp Mystic
The devastation at Camp Mystic was widespread, with multiple young campers among the deceased. Victims included 8-year-old Renee Smajstrla, who was remembered as a bright student and athlete, and twin sisters Hanna and Rebecca Lawrence of Dallas, whose family described their loss as “an unimaginable time for all of us.”
Camp Mystic’s director, Dick Eastland, was also killed while reportedly prioritizing the safety of campers, according to former staff and family members. Paige Sumner, a former camper, described Eastland as “the father figure to all of us while we were away from home,” in a column for The Kerrville Daily and his grandson, George Eastland, remembered him as a model of Christian strength, he said in a post on Instagram.
Other Victims and Community Response
Sisters Blair and Brooke Harber, students at St. Rita Catholic School in Dallas, perished when their cabin was destroyed, according to their school. Their parents survived, but the girls’ grandparents remain missing.
Nineteen-year-old counselor Chloe Childress, a counselor at Camp Mystic, described by her family as someone who “lived a beautiful life that saturated those around her with contagious joy, unending grace, and abiding faith,” was also among those lost.
Chloe Childress, 19, who was a counselor at Camp Mystic. Debbie Psifidis/Debra Alexander Photography via AP
Educators Reece and Paula Zunker of Kerrville, Texas, were killed, leaving behind two missing children, according to Tivy High School. The school community described Reece as a dedicated coach and Paula as a teacher whose impact continues to be felt.
Jane Ragsdale, longtime director of Heart O’the Hills Camp, died in the flooding as well. The camp called her “the heart of The Heart” and credited her with making every person feel loved and important.
Ongoing Search and Recovery
As of Wednesday, officials reported that more than 170 people remain missing across the state, with five girls and one counselor from Camp Mystic still unaccounted for.
In the aftermath, schools and churches have mobilized to support grieving families, offering counseling and organizing memorials. Community leaders and faith figures have encouraged residents to lean on one another and find hope amid the devastation.
