Lorena Lettitia Getty was known all her adult life as Irene Louise Getty. According to Antrim County Vital Records, on August 1, 1870, in Forest Home Township, a baby girl was born to William and Addie Getty. They named her Lorena Lettitia. She was called Rena by her family and friends, and the name "Rena" or "Lorena" was written in her grade school books. However, as an adult, she changed her name to the more sophisticated Irene Louise.

As Will, Jr. said in his letter, Irene devoted her entire life to educational work. According to legend, she did have a long time suitor, but after he had waited several years for her to marry him, he gave up in despair and married another girl. Irene graduated from Michigan State Normal College at Mt. Pleasant in 1893. She never married. She taught school for many years, was director of Kalkaska County Normal School, member of the Kalkaska Ladies' Concert Band, County School Commissioner, and Grand Worthy Matron of the Eastern Star. She died on August 4, 1934, at the age of 64 years, and is buried in the family lot in Evergreen Cemetery, Kalkaska.