Dolores McMakin

On Saturday, October 3, 2026, Dolores McMakin went to her heavenly home at the age of 85. She was born on September 13, 1941, in Kermit, Texas, the first child of Roy Lee Lambert Jr. and Lois Lambert Utt.

Dolores’s life was filled with many wonderful chapters. Raised in West Texas, she met and married her first husband, Edwin Songer. With a strong Christian faith, she dedicated herself to being a stay-at-home mother and raised four children in Garland, Texas.

On February 25, 1989, she married Billy Hal McMakin. Together they made their home in Grand Saline for three decades. During this time Dolores pursued her educational goals, earning her master’s degree from East Texas State University. She went on to a successful career as a psychotherapist and served for many years as Clinical Director at Lakes Regional MHMR in Terrell, Texas. Dolores and Hal loved serving as President of their square-dancing association and traveling north each fall to enjoy the changing leaves from Texas all the way to Maine. Hal passed away on April 1, 2020.

Dolores later moved to Miami, Florida, where she spent five joyful years as a true “Golden Girl,” savoring time with family, visits to the hair salon, the ocean, and lobster dinners. In July 2024 she returned to her home state of Texas. In August 2025 she chose her final chapter at Christian Care Center in Mesquite—the very place she had helped open years earlier as a volunteer. While living there she became a member of the on-site Church of Christ, made many new dear friends, served as a patient advocate, and continued her beloved hobbies of painting and reading.

Those left to cherish her memory are her sons, Alan Songer and his wife Karen, and Scott Songer and his wife Renee; her daughter, Felecia Carreras and her husband Pedro; her sister, Linda Lambert Martin; her daughter-in-law, Traci Songer; her grandchildren, Kendra Jenkins, David Songer, Johnathan Carreras, Daniel Carreras, Sunshine Everett, Robert Songer, Michael Songer, Brittany Trammel, and Hannah Songer; her great-grandchildren, Joey Songer, Colten Songer, Isaiah Hearn, Levi Hearn, Elijah Hearn, Mason Everett, Hayden Songer, Lilly Songer, Amelia Trammel, and Caden Trammel; her great-great-granddaughter, Hensley Hearn; and many beloved nieces, nephews, and friends.

Dolores was preceded in death by her husband Hal McMakin; her son Christopher Michael Songer; parents, Roy Lambert Jr. and Lois Lambert Utt; and her brother Steve Lambert.