Clara May Thornton, 78, of Griswold, IA, died Thursday night, May 17, 2012, at her home in Griswold.

Clara May Hopkins was born at Tarkio, MO, on July 20, 1933, the daughter of E. G. and Emma Elsie (Babb) Hopkins. As a young girl, the family made their home in Tarkio; Friend, NE; and Lyman, IA, before settling in Griswold in 1949. Clara May graduated from Griswold High School in 1951 and on November 7, 1951, she married Dale L. Thornton in Clarinda, IA. To this union, Daryl Lee, Nancye Dale, and Sara Lynn were born. Clara May graduated from Stewart School of Hairstyling in Council Bluffs and started the East Side Beauty Shop in Griswold which she operated for several years until Dale's business, Thornton Moving and Storage, required her attention full time. She was a member of the Griswold United Methodist Church and enjoyed sewing, gardening, cooking, baking, and of course shopping. She loved her family and loved spending time with her grandchildren.

Preceding Clara May in death were her parents, her son Daryl on March 17, 2010, and her sister Patricia Higgins.

Survivors include her husband of 60 years - Dale of Griswold, her daughters Nancye (Tim) Hasiak and Sara (Mike) Keim both of Omaha, NE; her daughter-in-law Diana Thornton of Beaumont, TX; her 9 grandchildren and 6 great grand-children. Also surviving are her brother Larry (Angie) of Blue Eye, MO, and her brother-in-law Bill Higgins of Cotopaxi, CO.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, May 22, 2012, at 11:00 AM at the Griswold United Methodist Church, Pastor Dwight Grosvenor officiating. Burial will be in the Griswold Cemetery. Open visitation will be at the Duhn Funeral Home in Griswold and the family will meet friends from 6:00 to 7:30 Monday evening.