‘A spark of joy’: Family and friends celebrate the life of Silver Rail teacher Megan Lambert

The 25-year-old special education teacher was remembered for her infectious laugh, devotion to children, and ability to make others feel loved

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- There were tears Saturday afternoon, but there was laughter, too.

“That effing laugh,” one speaker said as those gathered to remember Megan Lambert began laughing. “She had a hearty laugh that could fill a room with joy and happiness.”

Megan, the 25-year-old teacher killed in the October 15th shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School, was honored by family members, friends, and colleagues during a service designed to reflect the life she lived.

It was a celebration filled with color, joyful stories, and laughter — even amid profound grief.

“She was, simply put, a spark of joy,” one friend and colleague said. “She was boisterous, gregarious, kind. A good soul. She was a leader, and people were drawn to her.”

That spark followed Megan through every chapter of her life, from Bend to Boise, Barcelona, and back home again.

She was remembered as a volleyball player and coach, a book lover, a devoted friend and family member, and a natural teacher who cared deeply about everything she did.

That instinct was evident during her time at RAD Camps.

“She was not hired for a leadership position, but by day two, she was in a leadership position,” the camp’s owner recalled. “That was Megan. She just stepped up. She had the presence, the confidence, the care.”

That care eventually led Megan to Silver Rail Elementary, a school and community she loved.

Although it was her first year with a classroom of her own, those closest to Megan said she had been a teacher long before she received the official title.

“There was something in her that just made her a teacher,” one friend said. “She never faltered in her quest and desire to teach.”

Speaker after speaker described someone who noticed the small things, showed up for the big things, and made the people around her feel as though they belonged.

“Being loved by her was like soaking in the sun on a chilly day,” a friend said. “Just the most warm, comforting feeling possible.”

That warmth was reflected in nearly every detail of Saturday’s service.

Alongside the memorial programs were wildflower seed hearts and packets, giving those who loved Lambert something beautiful to plant, nurture, and watch grow.

Those attending were also invited to continue her legacy by scanning a code to share a memory, photograph, or story, or to donate to a foundation created in her name.

“Losing Megan will never be a forgotten pain,” one friend said. “But the mark she made on our hearts and lives will always be deeper than the scar of her death.”

Near the end of the service, following the music and memories shared by others, one of the clearest pictures of Megan came from Megan herself.

Her family played a message she recorded after learning she had been hired as a special education teacher at Silver Rail Elementary. Her excitement was not only about beginning her career. It was about the children she would serve.

“Got my email from HR, and I’ll get to start in August,” Megan said in the recording. “And I am, like, so excited to work at this school. Like, I love these kids so much.”

Megan spoke about already knowing some of the children through her summer camp and how excited they were to see her each day.

“They’re like, ‘Ms. Lambert!’ Like, I love this,” she said. “These kids are just so sweet. And then the SPED kids specifically at that school, like, have my heart. So I’m so excited.”

It was a final reminder of the love Megan carried into her classroom — and the joy, warmth, and belonging her loved ones said she carried everywhere she went.