Dayle M. Dunford Claywell Calhoun        “loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt”

Dayle M. Dunford Claywell Calhoun, 73, of Shinglehouse, formerly of Erie, passed away after suffering a stroke in July of 2025 and battling dementia on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at Sweden Valley Manor in Coudersport PA.

Born on July 26, 1952 in Erie PA, she was the daughter of James L. Dunford, Jr. and Dorothy M. Wronek Dunford Liebel. On October 16, 1970 in Erie, she married Ernest Calhoun, who survives. She remarried him on May 20, 2013..

Dayle graduated from East High School in 1970 and later in life acquired a Medical Transcription certification. She held several jobs in Erie, doing data entry for Hamot Hospital records department, REGIS, and cafeteria lady for Clark and Rolling Ridge Elementary while also raising her two daughters Teena Hamilton and Beth Carnell. She was also very involved in their Girl Scout troupe activities, often being the troupe leader.

She moved to Show Low, Arizona and married Terri Claywell, for a period of years. While in Arizona, she did medical transcription and floor coordination for Summit Healthcare Regional Medical Center. She then moved back to Pennsylvania and lived with her mother Dorothy in Pittsburgh for a few years, ending up back in Erie where her relationship with Ernest began anew. Once reunited with Ernest, she moved to Shinglehouse where she remained to the last of her days. While in Pittsburgh and Erie, she worked at UPMC Pittsburgh, and Select Specialty hospitals doing floor coordination.

Dayle loved doing crafts (macrame, needlepoint, cross-stitch), camping, hunting, snowmobiling, and spending time in the woods/natural world. She cherished her time with her grandchildren whenever she could see them. She was always happy to get involved in an adventure. She was a fan of sports even though she did not participate. She loved to watch her girls compete in sports and also sports on TV like football, softball, and the Olympics. You would normally find her wearing some kind of Pittsburgh Steeler attire.

She was preceded in death by her father, James Dunford, Jr. and his wife Pearlie; her mother, Dorothy Liebel and her husband Raymond; a sister, Diane Dunford; and a granddaughter, Josephyn Tanner.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Ernest Calhoun; her daughters, Teena (David) Hamilton and Beth (Mark) Carnell; three grandchildren, Matthew Hetrick, Jeffrey Hetrick, and Jacob Wisniewski; five siblings, Darlene (John) Williams, James (Pam) Dunford III, Joice (Bill) Viets, Mari McCullum, and Ray Liebel III; her god-daughter, Diane Ahlschlager; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

There will be no public visitation. Dayle’s celebration of life will be held privately.

In lieu of flowers memorials in Dayle’s name may be made to the Autism Society of Northwestern PA, 3308 State Street, Erie, PA 16508.

Dayle’s family has entrusted her care and cremation arrangements to Kevin J. Dusenbury, funeral director/owner of the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home, Shinglehouse.

To express condolences, light a candle or share a fond memory of Dayle, please visit www.virgillhowardfuneralhome.com or the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home Facebook page.