Lera Jane Blakley Lam

Lera Jane Blakley Lam passed away on February 17, 2026. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on February 21 at First Baptist Church in Gatesville. Interment will follow at Fairy Cemetery. The family will receive visitors from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, February 20 at Scott’s Funeral Home.

Lera Jane was born to Scott and Bessie McCoy Blakley of the Agee Community and graduated from Fairy Highschool in 1957. A few of her fond memories in Fairy where learning to roller skate at the school gym on Tuesday nights, the annual field trip to the State Fair in Dallas, and marching with the first-ever drill team to recorded music at football game half-times.

Lera Jane continued her education at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth receiving a B.S. degree in 1960 and then married Max Terry Lam on October 1 of that same year. Later, she also earned an M.S. degree in Education from Baylor University in Waco. She retired in 2001 after 6 years of service at the Temple V.A. and Ft. Hood Finance Divisions and 24 years of classroom teaching: 1 year in Flat and 23 years in 4th grade at Gatesville Intermediate School. Lera and Max moved to Gatesville in 1971 where they had two children. She lived there for 55 years and enjoyed her retirement with Max. She enjoyed spending time at the ranch where she grew up in Fairy and hosted “Nana Camp” for her grandchildren.

Lera was a faithful member of First Baptist Church of Gatesville for 40+ years where she taught Sunday School, was a V.B.S. helper, participated in handbell choir and was a part of the “Kids Heart” mission team. She was also a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, a women teacher’s organization, the Gamma Alpha Chapter since 1982 and served on various committees including being the Program Chairman from 1996-98 and the President from 1998-2000. Lera really enjoyed the wonderful members of Gamma Alpha. She was also the Woman’s Forum President from 2003-2005. Most recently, she was honored with The Hornet Legend Award for her years of service at Gatesville ISD.

Lera will be remembered as a wonderful and devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, a compassionate and motivated schoolteacher and most importantly, as a servant of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

She is preceded in death by her brother, Bobby Virgil Blakley and her parents Scott and Bessie Blakley, as well as her husband Max Lam.

Lera is survived by her son, Jayson Lam and wife, Laura, and her daughter, Leigh Anne Schwope; grandchildren, Shelbi Snider and husband, Ryan, Brooke Lam, Blakley Schwope, Carter Schwope, and Lyndsey Dailey and husband, Jacob; great-grandchild Addison Snider.

Memorials may be given to First Baptist Church, 912 E. Main Street, Gatesville, Texas, 76528.

The family of Lera Lam wishes to extend our sincere thanks to her caregivers and treasured friends who have provided much-needed love and support through the years.