Crayton C Guhlke

Passed away peacefully on July 4, 2023, at Beyond Pristine AFH in Spokane, WA. His lifetime home was Davenport, WA. He was born on October 5, 1934, in Spokane, WA to Carl and Carolyn (Straub) Guhlke. Crayton grew up in Davenport, WA and graduated in 1952 from Davenport High School and then attended WSC (now WSU) for one year. Crayton then joined the Naval Reserves with the Sea Bee’s at Port Hueneme, CA discovering his passion for operating heavy equipment. While at Port Hueneme he also worked in the oil fields with family friend Carl Canfield. Crayton soon returned home to the family farm in Davenport, WA; where he settled in for a lifetime career of farming, ranching and heavy construction work. Crayton married Sharon Ware on August 25, 1958. 1962 Crayton and his Father-in-law Emery Ware built their home on the Bluestem farm, residing and raising their family for over 40 years, which remains the family farm today. Crayton was a member and cattle buyer for the National Farmers Organization (NFO), member of the Zion Lutheran Church, Davenport Gun Club, Davenport Livestock Boosters, Lincoln County Historical Society, Lincoln County Cattleman’s Association, Master of the Bluestem Grange, former director of the Davenport Grange Supply and Co-Owner of the Davenport Cattle Collection Point. Crayton and Gene Stuckle co-founded Davenport Vintage Harvest, which continues as an annual event hosted at the Guhlke Family Farms “Big Red Barn” in which Crayton started restoration in 2007. In 2010 he was awarded the Chairmans Award for outstanding rehabilitation of the “Charles ‘Carl’ Straub Barn” from the WA State Heritage Barn Advisory Committee.

Crayton is survived by his three children Brett Guhlke, Todd and (Lynne) Guhlke, Michelle and (Jon) Overmyer along with five grandchildren Carey Guhlke-Falk, Curtis Guhlke, Chad and (Maddi) Overmyer, Jonelle and (Jacob) Nutting and Brent and (Terra) Kile and 11 great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his wife Sharon in 2004 and daughter-in-law Charlene Guhlke in 2021. Services will be held August 5th, Graveside Service at 10 a.m. at the Mountain View Cemetery in Davenport, followed by a Memorial Service at 11:00 AM at the Zion Lutheran Church, 1007 Washington St. Davenport, WA 99122 with Kris Budde, officiating. Informal gathering in Crayton’s memory will be held at the Guhlke farms “Big Red Barn” at 3 p.m. Memorials may be made to the Lincoln County Historical Society. (Vintage Harvest), PO Box 585, davenport, WA 99122. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.strate-funeral.com for the Guhlke family. STRATE FUNERAL HOME, DAVENPORT, WA is caring for the family.