Ella Elizabeth Thomas

Beautiful, brilliant, and all too briefly with us, Ella Elizabeth Horst Thomas died on January 23, 2018 at the age of 24. Throughout her short life Ella was known for her loving heart and generous spirit, as well as her quick wit and feisty personality. She had a passion for helping others, especially children, and a soft spot for dogs, including her beloved Mickey. All those fortunate enough to have known and loved her will miss her tremendously.

Despite entering this world nine weeks early and weighing only three and one-half pounds, Ella grew into a tall statuesque beauty with a genuine and radiant smile. By the age of seven she had become a world-class traveler, riding elephants in the Mekong River and attending school in New South Wales. She returned to the States at age nine with a pronounced and charming Aussie accent that never completely faded away.

In 2005 the Thomas family moved to Coppell, Texas where Ella attended middle and high school, graduating in 2011. She excelled at basketball for the Coppell Cowgirls and, like her mother and her grandfather, enjoyed playing the trombone. A life-changing mission trip to Chicago during high school reinforced her strong desire to work with the disadvantaged. Her honesty and forthrightness further armed her for fighting local injustice, including unwarranted traffic stops by the police, despite her youth.

Ella attended the University of Arkansas and returned to Coppell in 2017. With her she brought joy, laughter, and a giant capacity for love. Ella is survived by her parents, Chris and Martha, and her brother, Solomon, as well as extended family and many friends.

Memorial donations may be made to Gil Taylor Depression Awareness Alliance or The Family Place.

“My candle burns at both ends;

It will not last the night;

But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends ---

It gives a lovely light!”

- Edna St. Vincent Millay