Clela Saxman

Clela was born in her grandparents’ home on March 20, 1935 to George H. and Edith Caroline Bash Treece in Bryant Indiana. In the 1970’s the homestead was sold and became Bearcreek Farms. She graduated from Bryant High School in 1953 and continued her education graduating from Ball State Teachers College in 1957 and obtaining her Master’s degree in 1961.

Clela was married on August 17, 1958 to Frederick William Saxman. He spotted her on the school bus and started writing her notes that were transferred by a friend. Invariably he would wrap a piece of juicy fruit gum in his note. The rest was their love story.

Clela & Fred owned Muncie’s first Harley Davidson franchise from 1967-1974. They enjoyed many motorcycle trips with their only child, Lizabeth, attending Motormaid conventions in the summer.

Clela’s love of teaching spanned 41 years, 22 of which were spent at Yorktown Middle and High School. While there she sponsored the FHA and took them on several skiing trips. The last 20 years of her career she was the department head and was in charge of the curriculum. To this day she always said she had the nicest kids in school.

Treatment and survival of breast cancer led to her retirement in 1998. With retirement, her and Fred wintered in Florida for 14 years. She enjoyed doing ceramics, playing shuffleboard, being a card shark and frequenting the flea market for trinkets and treasures.

Clela was a member of the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Muncie where she participated in the choir for many years. She was a talented pianist, an avid book reader and loved all animals. She created many sewing pieces, played dominoes with friends, loved riding her bicycle to feed the local ducks, and would relax after a hard day by enjoying a klondike bar.

Everyone that knew Clela was touched by her generosity, kindness and class. No adjectives are worthy enough to describe her as a mother, grandmother, teacher and friend.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Orvis, half brothers Bill and Jim and her husband Frederick.

She is survived by her daughter Lizabeth Ann (Liz) and her husband Ted Van Hooser, granddaughter Kathryn (Katie) along with her fiance Nick Novotny, her half sister Mary Bridges, several nieces and nephews and her beloved Maltese, Abby.

The family would like to thank the caregivers from Home Instead, IU Ball Memorial Hospice, special friends Andrea Dyer and Dick Houser, Dr. Morgan Langhofer, Pastor Jerry O’Neal and niece Evelyn Stephenson.

Calling hours will be Thursday, January 27, 2022 at Elm Ridge Funeral Home, 4600 West Kilgore Avenue, Muncie, Indiana 47304 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Calling hours Friday, January 28, 2022 will be from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 900 West White River Boulevard, Muncie, Indiana 47303.

Funeral services will be Friday, January 28, 2022 at 1 p.m. Holy Trinity Lutheran Church.

Masks and social distancing are required at Elm Ridge Funeral Home and Holy Trinity Lutheran Church.

Burial will follow at Gravel Hill Cemetery in Bryant, Indiana.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Cancer Society, A Better Way, Muncie Animal Shelter, and ARF.