Clara's life began August 3, 1946 in Benton Harbor, Michigan.  She was a lifetime area resident and graduated from Watervliet High School in 1964.  After high school Clara earned a degree from Benton Harbor Business College.  Clara helped her husband Virgil on the farm while raising their two sons.  Clara worked for Benton Harbor Area Schools as the Superintendent's secretary, she also worked at St. Joseph Public Schools and after starting a family she returned to Benton Harbor Area Schools as a substitute secretary.  Clara was compassionate and she demonstrated it through being a caregiver for her parents and her friend Cynthia. For many years Clara was an active member of St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Bainbridge Township serving as a Deaconess, on the church board, and where she was the chairman of the homebound committee for four years.

Outside of work and church you could find Clara being a member of the Young Women's Social League.  She also enjoyed projects be it painting, staining or refinishing furniture, or doing yard work and tending to her flower wall.  She enjoyed the water either fishing, swimming in her pool, or as a kid swimming and skiing at her grandparents' cottage on Pipestone Lake.  Clara also filled her time reading mystery novels, playing cards, attending antique auctions or an antique class, and catching up with her friends.  Above everything Clara enjoyed spending time with her family and supporting her children and grandchildren at their games and activities.

Clara's loving family includes her husband Virgil Bradford, two sons Jeffrey (Jennifer) Bradford of St. Joseph and Mark (Kristie) Bradford of Fishers, IN, four grandchildren Tyler Moore, Marcus Bradford, Nathan Bradford, and Lisa Bradford, a brother John (Martha) Smith of Florida, and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Clara died Tuesday, January 24, at Lakeland Medical Center in St. Joseph.  Her parents Harry and Clara (Gayton) Smith and a brother William Smith precede Clara in death.  Friends may visit with Clara's family Friday, January 27, from 4:30 to 7:00 pm at Hutchins Funeral Home in Watervliet.  A private family burial will take place in Riverview Cemetery in St. Joseph.  In lieu of flowers memorials may be made in Clara's memory to Coloma Public Library.  You are invited to leave a memory of Clara at hutchinsfuneral.com