Lafayette - Mary Louise (Gilmore) Clawson, 98, of Lafayette and formerly of the Independence community, passed away unexpectedly in the emergency room of the Franciscan Health East Hospital, Lafayette, on Saturday, September 13, 2025 aty 2:15 p.m.
Mary was born in Attica, Indiana on July 27, 1927.  She was the daughter of the late Charles E. and Goldie L. (Lowe) Gilmore.  Mary was raised in Attica until the age of six and then moved to Independence where she lived most of her life.  She graduated from Pine Village High School in 1945.  She later moved to Lafayette in 1995.
After graduation from high school, Mary worked as a secretary at Harrison Steel Castings Company in Attica and later for Radio Material Corp. in Attica. In 1967 she began working at Purdue University in the Animal Science Department for 25 ½ years, retiring in 1992.  During this time she and her husband, owned and operated the Clawson Feed Mill in Independence.
Mary was a member of the River Spring Church in Independence.  She also was a member of the YWCA in Lafayette.  Mary was an avid NASCAR race fan with Jeff Gordon as her favorite driver.  While living in Lafayette she was quite the social butterfly where she enjoyed traveling, playing cards and going out to dinner with friends.  She also experienced sailing on two cruises.
On October 5, 1946, Mary married Gerald Noble "Sad Eye" Clawson in Valparaiso, IN.  Gerald preceded Mary in death on April 1, 1998.
Mary leaves behind her son, Richard (Judy) Clawson, Lafayette; two grandsons Rick (Cindy) Taylor, Minneapolis, MN and Todd (Mariette) Taylor, Lafayette; five great-grandchildren, Warren, Samara, Brayton, Nathan and Karl; several nieces & nephews, Judy (Lynn) Stewart, Lafayette; Sandy Panagiotis, Edgewood, MD; Diane (David) Yeager, Valparaiso, IN; Dean Reynolds, Florida; Dawn (Mike) Harper, Madison, WI; Jerry Clawson, Florida and Steve Clawson, Lafayette; several great nieces and nephews; a special little fellow, Pax.  She was preceded in death by her grand dog, Ruthie Diane; two sisters, Ruth Kelley and Frances Davis and an infant brother, Charles Gilmore.
Friends may call at the Maus Funeral Home, Attica, on Friday, September 19th, from 12:00 p.m. until the service time at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Mike Link officiating.  Burial will follow in the Independence Cemetery, Independence, IN.  Memorial contributions may be made to the River Spring Church, 7763 E. Fourth St., Attica, IN   47918.