Doris Elaine Layer, 78, of Houston, Texas, died unexpectedly on 20 September 2023, at HCA Houston Healthcare Northwest. She was born on 8 March 1945, in Paris, Texas. Her mother, Elinita Brandon, relocated to San Antonio with Elaine and her elder sister, Lana, and married Edward L. Scott, who adopted them into the Scott family in 1950.

Elaine was the second-eldest of the Scott children. She was a loving grandmother, mother, sister, daughter, and aunt. She was a sweet-natured and compassionate person. She will forever be in our hearts, as one who cherished and helped with the upbringing of her younger siblings. She was a cat lover, and always had at least one cat. She enjoyed gardening and had a beautiful back yard in Universal City, TX, with a koi pond that she took great pleasure in. She also enjoyed helping others. After relocating to Houston and moving into an apartment, she spent a lot of time with her sister, Chérie, and helped her get her garden into shape. She even talked her into starting a vegetable garden together in her back yard and they often went grocery shopping together so they could make use of their garden produce.

Elaine is survived by her former husband, Gerard Edward Layer, her daughter Tara Elaine Layer, and three grandchildren: Jace McGaw, Charles Renault Scott, and Rikki Lee Castro. She is also survived by her adoptive father, retired Air Force COL Edward L. Scott, and her siblings Edward [Dana] Scott, Debra Lynn [Thomas] Zuzanek, Robert D. [Jane] Scott, Chérie [Richard] Grogan, and Theresa [James] Wilson; as well as nieces and nephews Andrew Paparella, Jr, Natalie Scott, Yvonne Scott, Beverly Zuzanek, Michael Zuzanek, Robert S. Scott, Charles R. Scott, Sean J. Scott, Abigail Grogan, Taylor S. Wilson, Jared J. Wilson, and Colin R. Wilson. Also, survived by her brother-in-law, Andrew [Mary] Paparella, and Kim Hensley, the birth mother of Natalie and Yvonne Scott.

Elaine was predeceased by her mother, Elinita Scott in 2009, by her elder sister, Lana [Andrew] Paparella in 2012, her half-brother Barry [Joy] Campbell in 2018, and her brother-in-law, James [Theresa] Wilson, in 2022.

Elaine was employed as a secretary and administrative assistant in a number of different companies over the years. She culminated her career as Executive Assistant for the Directorate of Operations, Headquarters Nineteenth Air Force, Air Education and Training Command, Randolph Air Base, Texas, from 4 November 1985 to 31 December 2011.  She was awarded the Department of the Air Force Award for Meritorious Civilian Service upon her retirement in 2011.

Elaine was cremated at Graceful Memorial & Bayou Family Funeral Home. No public funeral services are planned, as Elaine desired.