Dorrace Nell Straley

Dorrace Nell Straley, age 96, passed away on March 22, 2026, in Lampasas, Texas.  She was born on August 28, 1929, in Temple, Texas, to Forrest W. Brock and Mary Ellen Lisenbe Brock.

Visitation will be held on Friday, March 27, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Sneed-Carnley Funeral Chapel in Lampasas, Texas.  Graveside services will be held on Saturday, March 28, at 10:00 a.m. at Oak Hill Cemetery in Lampasas, Texas.

Dorrace grew up in Belton and Salado, Texas, and completed her senior year of high school at Calera High School in Oklahoma, where she graduated.  She married the love of her life, John C. Straley, on December 24, 1947, in Childress, Texas.  Together, they built a life centered on family, strong values, and a steadfast commitment to one another.

For most of her life, Dorrace was a devoted homemaker whose greatest joy was caring for her family.  She and her husband, John, spent their early years together in East Texas, raising their children in Tyler and Lufkin, where their home was filled with love, laughter, and strong family values.  In the early 1970s, they returned to their ranch between Lampasas and Lometa, Texas--a place they had purchased in the 1950s and always held close to their hearts--where they built a life rooted in hard work, faith, and togetherness.  During that time, Dorrace and John also owned and operated the Montgomery Ward catalog store in Lampasas.  She later worked part-time at a ladies' fashion boutique in Lampasas in the mid-1980s.

Dorrace was a member of First Baptist Church of Lampasas.  She was known affectionately as "Nanny" by her grandchildren and many others who loved her.  She adored her family and cherished every moment spent with them.  Playing board games, cards, and dominoes was a favorite pastime, and she was known to be a strong and spirited competitor.  Dorrace enjoyed reading, had a gift for entertaining, and never met a stranger, greeting everyone with a warm smile and kind heart.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Forrest W. Brock and Mary Ellen Lisenbe Brock; her husband, John C. Straley; her son, Don C.Straley; her son-in-law, William K. White; her brother, Gary Brock; her sister, Jean Potts and her husband, Leland Potts.

Dorrace is survived by her children, Cynthia White of Lampasas, Texas, John H. Straley and wife Virlene of Rockdale, Texas, and Lori Lake and husband Randall W. Lake of Lampasas, Texas.  She is also survived by her brothers, Bobby Brock and wife Dorothy, and Ronnie Brock.

She leaves behind a loving legacy through her grandchildren: Dianna Armstrong and husband Bruce, Monica Ventress and husband Robert, Jason Lake and wife Jamuna, Scotty Straley, Victor Straley, Theresa Ritcher and husband Steve, and Larry Baker; along with 13 great-grandchildren, numerous great-great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to a charity of your choice in her memory.

Dorrace Nell Straley will be remembered for her deep love of family, her welcoming spirit, and the joy she brought to all who knew her.  Her legacy of kindness, strength, and devotion will live on in the hearts of those she leaves behind.