As the floodwaters recede in Central Texas, the human toll continues to rise—measured not only in numbers but in names, faces, and stories that leave families forever changed. Among the lives lost were two young girls from Dallas whose friendship was as deep as it was pure.
Lila Bonner, 9, and Eloise Peck, 8, were best friends and cabinmates at Camp Mystic, a beloved girls’ summer camp nestled in the Texas Hill Country. On July 4, flash floods ripped through the region, overwhelming riverside cabins and catching dozens by surprise. Lila and Eloise were among those who didn’t make it out.
Their deaths were confirmed over the weekend—two bright, joyful lives lost in a moment no one could have foreseen.
“She Passed Away Beside Her Best Friend”
Eloise’s mother shared a deeply personal message through Alive11 reporter Kaitlyn Ross, painting a picture of her daughter that will linger in hearts:
“Eloise was literally friends with everyone,” she said. “She loved spaghetti, but not more than she loved dogs and animals. She had a family who loved her fiercely for the 8 years we were blessed to have her. Especially her Mommy.”
Ross wrote that Eloise died alongside her best friend, Lila Bonner. A photo shared by the family shows the girls together—sun-kissed, smiling, full of the carefree joy only summer can bring.
“Rest in peace, sweet girls. You will never be forgotten,” Ross concluded.
Third Dallas Girl Still Missing
The tragedy deepens with the ongoing search for Hadley Hanna, the third young girl from Dallas who vanished from Camp Mystic during the storm. As of July 6, she remained unaccounted for.
On July 4, OKCM Search and Rescue posted a plea to social media, sharing photos of all 18 campers who were initially reported missing. By Sunday, the update was grim: 11 campers and 1 counselor were still missing. Teams remain on the ground, combing through wreckage, braving flood zones, and holding onto hope.
“Please keep praying. Search operations continue,” the organization urged in an update.
A Community in Mourning
The deaths of Lila and Eloise have shaken not just their families, but their entire community. Friends, neighbors, and even strangers across Texas have taken to social media to share their grief and solidarity.
Michelle Meals, a marketing and social media consultant, posted this on Saturday:
“One of my sweet clients—her daughter is best friends with Eloise Peck. Still missing in the Texas floods. Very close to home. Praying Eloise is found so she and Hunter can have more play dates.”
The next day, the heartbreaking update came: Eloise had been found—but not alive.
The Toll Rises
As of July 6, over 50 people have died in the Texas floods. That number is expected to climb as debris is cleared and rescue crews push deeper into affected areas.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott described the devastation at Camp Mystic as “unlike anything I’ve seen in any natural disaster,” vowing that the state would do everything possible to locate the remaining missing girls.
Two best friends. One tragic night. A lifetime of memories that now live only in the hearts of those left behind.
In the aftermath of so much loss, it’s the love shared between Lila and Eloise—their laughter, their friendship, their bond—that Texans will remember. Their story reminds us all: life is fragile, and love, when shared freely, is eternal.
Rest in peace, Lila and Eloise. You were sunshine in a storm. 🌼
