Clara Louise McKelvey

Clara Louise (Spaulding) McKelvey

Clara McKelvey passed away on April 2, 2026. She was born June 9, 1932 to Roy and Dorothy (Case) Spaulding in Battle Creek. Her older siblings were Norman, Bill, Helen and later she had younger brother Robert. The family moved around a little before settling on a farm on Barryville Road in Maple Grove Township in 1943, where she began attending the Moore School. It was here that she met a neighborhood boy two years older than she, Ted McKelvey. Ted decided early on that she was the girl for him. They were married November 11, 1949 in Angola Indiana and celebrated 70 years of marriage before Ted died in 2020.

After starting their family, Clara began working at Battle Creek Food Company where she worked for 7 years before spending the next 36 years at Archway Cookies until retiring in 1995.

Clara and Ted traveled the United States extensively, including 11 trips to Hawaii (mostly for work meetings) and a retirement cruise to Alaska. After retirement, they spent several winters in Hudson, FL socializing and golfing with other Hastings couples. Clara enjoyed quilting, reading, painting, and going for walks on their farm. She loved her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and cherished having the family together for meals and celebrations at their house.

Although Clara was raised in a Seventh Day Adventist home, she left the church during her working years. In 2015 she was re-baptized into the Delton SDA Church and later transferred to the Hastings SDA Church after moving into assisted living. Her faith was a central part of her life.

Clara was predeceased by her parents, husband Ted, her siblings and their spouses, and son-in-law Roy Goforth. She is survived by daughters Teddie (Steve) Soya, Peggy (Bryan Salyers) McKelvey, Jan McKelvey, and Julie Shreeve; grandchildren Eric (Todd Barnhill) Soya, Martha (Justin) Ports, Andy (Ron Napier) Soya, Libby (Dan) Bonnell, Matt Gibbons, Nolan (Jessica Dill) Shreeve, Magee (Scott) Heethuis; great-grandchildren Abby Gibbons, Camilla Bonnell, Maxton Bonnell, Tahlia Shreeve, Elleanor Shreeve, Asher McMillen, Joanna Ports, Eisley Heethuis, Ronan Shreeve; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held Monday April 20, 2026 at 10:00 am at the Hastings Seventh Day Adventist Church, 904 Terry Lane, Hastings. The memorial service follows at 11:00 and friends, family and neighbors are invited to join for a luncheon after. Clara will be interred at Wilcox Cemetery in a private ceremony at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Hastings Food Pantry, c/o Green Street UMC, 209 W. Green St, Hastings.