Clara  Burkey, age 82 of  Mottville, MI, passed away  Friday, November 30th, 2012  at her home surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Cass County , MI on June 5, 1930. Clara graduated from Dowagiac High School in 1947 and  served in the Women's Army Corps. during WW II. On March 25, 1950 she married Max Burkey in Bronson, MI.  He preceded her on January 21, 2009.  Clara worked at Industrial Lamp Inc. and Vent Line both in Bristol She enjoyed crochet and collecting chicken keepsakes. Clara was a devoted and loving wife mother and grandmother who cherished her family.Surviving are her daughters  Karla (Jim Jr.) Sweat of Constantine, Cheryl (Ed) Bradford of Mottville, son  Eugene (Brenda) Burkey of Mottville, grandchildren Robert Burkey, Tena Zimmerman, Joshua (Rachael) Sweat, Jim (Charla) Sweat III, Jerod (Kassandra) Bradford, Larry Fulhart, 6 Gt. grandchildren Natasha Zimmerman, Savannah and Sydney Sweat, Alexa and Trenton Sweat and Cayden Bradford, sisters Luciel Connans of Elkhart, Alma Cassalman of Constantine, brothers  James (Diane) Akin of Elkhart, Edward Akin of Nashville, MI and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents brothers Lavern, Paul and Richard Akin and sisters Ethel Cannan, Hazel Anglemyer, Geraldine Anglemyer, Hilda Church, Vivian Chiddester, Dorothy Akin and Marcilene Akin.Relatives and friends will be received Saturday December 8, from 11am to 1 p.m.  at Eley Funeral Home in Constantine where Religious Services will follow at 1:00 P.M. on Saturday. Pastor Jim Garnett will officiate. Interment of Ashes will take place at a later date at Mottville Township Cemetery.