Dorrace Nell Straley, 96, died on March 22, 2026, in Lampasas.
Visitation will be held March 27 from 6-8 p.m. at Sneed-Carnley Funeral Chapel in Lampasas.
Graveside services will be March 28 at 10 a.m. at Oak Hill Cemetery in Lampasas.
Dorrace was born on Aug. 28, 1929, in Temple, Texas, to Forrest W. Brock and Mary Ellen Lisenbe Brock.
She grew up in Belton and Salado, 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 Dec. 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 homemaker whose greatest joy was caring for her family. She and her husband spent their early years together in East Texas, raising their children in Tyler and Lufkin.
In the early 1970s, they returned to their ranch between Lampasas and Lometa -- 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 as “Nanny” by her grandchildren and many others. 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 spirited competitor. Dorrace enjoyed reading, had a gift for entertaining and greeted everyone with a warm smile and kind heart.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John C. Straley; son, Don C. Straley; son-in-law, William K. White; her brother, Gary Brock; and her sister Jean Potts and husband Leland Potts.
Dorrace is survived by her children, Cynthia White of Lampasas, John H. Straley and wife Virlene of Rockdale, and Lori Lake and husband Randall W. Lake of Lampasas; her brothers, Bobby Brock and wife Dorothy, and Ronnie Brock; 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; 13 greatgrandchildren; numerous great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
The family requested donations be made to a charity of one’s choice in her memory.
