I'm never a fan of pictures taken at funerals. But, here it is. A rare moment when this many Craik grandchildren and great-grandchildren are assembled does warrant a photo. What a legacy she left.
The life sketch that her children put together:
Edna Emma Jensen Craik of Vancouver, WA, passed away on Oct. 10, 2013 at 92. She was born Dec. 24, 1920, at home on 51st Avenue in Portland, OR to Bill and Cloe Jensen. She grew up on a farm in the forested hills near Woodland, WA, surrounded by two older brothers, Charlie and Buster, and
two younger brothers, Bill and Herbert. She was a tomboyish part of a hardworking farm family. Summers would find Cloe and the kids loading the laundry into the farm wagon and heading two miles down to Cedar Creek for a day of washing for Cloe and swimming for the kids. Grade school was two miles away, a daily trip Edna did on foot.
A courtship began between Edna and Everett Craik when she was fourteen. After graduating from Woodland High School, she worked at the courthouse in Vancouver, WA for a year. Edna married Everett on June 3, 1938, at the ripe old age of 18. She then turned to her main "career" of being a wife and mother. Edna and Everett went on have to six children. They moved from near White Salmon, WA to Woodland, WA, to Gresham, OR, then to Petersburg, AK, Walla Walla, WA, and Centennial, WY. After the children were grown, they moved to Trout Creek, MT and began building a home. The house burned to the ground before ever being finished. To lessen her disappointment, Everett took her to Cannon Beach, OR, where they purchased a home and lived for several years before returning to
Walla Walla.
Highly active in her church as pianist, treasurer, deaconess, and Sabbath School teacher, Edna participated with each local Seventh-day Adventist Church in each of towns where she lived.
Edna managed the books of Everett Craik Lumber Company most of her married life. In the early years, she worked from a desk in the bedroom, so she could be available to her children. Edna and Everett were also able to sponsor a number of international students to attend Walla Walla College. She was active in community projects. She enjoyed reading, working crossword puzzles and watching classic movies such as Pride and Prejudice, the BBC version. A published author, she enjoyed writing as well. She and Everett enjoyed traveling, including visiting relatives in Denmark, tracing Craik family history in Scotland and visiting their son in Brazil.
Edna and Everett had a wonderful marriage for 59 years before Everett's death in 1998.
Their six children provided 24 grandchildren, many of which lived with her during their college years. She got involved in the fun even to the extent of her spraying a crowded pool of college kids with cold water from a hose, laughing all the while. Not only did she house her own grandchildren, but she touched the lives of a few adopted grandchildren who still think of her as Grandma Edna to this day. Her grandchildren have over the years, extended her family with sixty great-grandchildren, giving Edna a chance to extend her love even further. Edna's hospitality not only provided a roof over heads, but also she cooked amazing food, with pies for which she was well known. On a given Sabbath, she might host twenty or more for dinner. She was a wonderful
hostess.
Edna was a devoted mother, generous and supportive of her children, Larry A. Craik of Trout Creek, MT, Patricia A. Fackenthall (John) of Walla Walla, Suzanne Kack (Don) of Thompson Falls, MT, James E. Craik (Lorraine) of Kotzebue, AK and Elizabeth Hardy (Peter) of White Salmon, WA. Also surviving are 23 grandchildren; 60 great-grandchildren; her sister-in-law, Iris Jensen; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Everett; four brothers, Charles, Buster, Bill and Herbert; her daughter, Margaret; and three infant grandchildren.
Family and friends may pay their respects from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Mountain View-Colonial
DeWitt, 1551 Dalles Military Road, Walla Walla, WA 99362. A funeral service will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Sat., Oct. 19, 2013, at the Walla Walla University Church. The graveside service and interment will be 10:30 a.m., Sun., Oct. 20, 2013, at Mount Hope Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to ADRA International through the funeral
home.
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