ERIE — Clara May Angleton, 76, lifelong resident of the rural Erie area, died at 6:08 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011, in the emergency room of Labette Health. Death was unexpected.

She was born in rural Erie on Sept. 13, 1935, to Clarence R. and Leona May (Treadway) DeWeese. She graduated from Erie High School in 1953 and attended Chanute Junior College.

On Nov. 18, 1956, she married Cecil Angleton at the Walnut United Methodist Church. They had observed 55 years of marriage this year. For many years they owned and operated the Angleton Dairy.

Clara May loved gardening and attending the sporting events of her children and grandchildren throughout the years. She served on the Shaw Cemetery Board and volunteered in the Erie Thrift Store. She enjoyed the monthly birthday celebrations of a group of friends at the Stark restaurant.

Survivors include her husband, Cecil Angleton of the home; two daughters, Darlene Sears and her husband, Terry, and Gayle Kanute and her husband, Don, all of Erie; a daughter-in-law, Connie Angleton of Erie; seven grandchildren, Megan McMahan and her husband, Cody, of Pomona, Derek Sears and his wife, Lynsey of Wellsville, Jacob and Carlee Kanute, Deidre, Kylie and Riley Angleton, all of Erie; two great-grandchildren, Gunnar and Greelie May McMahan of Pomona; an expected great-grandson of Derek and Lynsey Sears; a brother, Charley DeWeese of Thayer; and a beloved dog, Tippie; and a special cat, Pumpkin.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Robert A. Angleton, who died Nov. 25, 2003; and a sister, Linda DeWeese.

The service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Erie Federated Church. Burial will be in the Shaw Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the Pierce-Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Erie.

Memorials are suggested to the Neosho County Fair Association. They may be left at or sent to the funeral home at P.O. Box 182, Erie, 66733.

Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.