Rae L Ashcraft

Rae LaVonne (Gumpert) Ashcraft, 80, passed away peacefully on May 20, 2017.  She was the daughter of Rosalia & Willard Gumpert, born on May 6, 1937, in Bend, Oregon.

As a young girl, she lived in the logging camps of Shevlin-Hixon Lumber Company south of Bend until 1951 when her family moved to Prineville. While attending Crook County High School, she was active in many clubs and Job’s Daughters.  After graduating in 1955, she attended Eugene Beauty College.

  Rae met her future husband Daryle while he was in the Army.  They married on August 1, 1957, and started their family. When he was recruited by the Central Intelligence Agency in September 1959, she left on a global adventure that included Okinawa, Japan, Cyprus, The Philippines, and Germany.  In 1969, they returned to the USA to live in Virginia until Daryle’s retirement in1978.  While living in Virginia, she took classes in nutrition and worked her way up to cafeteria manager at an elementary school.  In 1978, she returned to Prineville with her family. She became the cafeteria manager at Crooked River Elementary School and retired after 20 years. 

Since the family’s return to Prineville, Rae has been active in the Lady Elks and the Reunion Committee for the CCHS Class of 55.  Rae enjoyed many crafts including needle work (crocheting, knitting, needlepoint and quilting), cake decorating and ceramics.  She was an avid reader, and her hobbies included bowling and travel.  But most of all, she enjoyed spending time with family and friends.

Rae is survived by son Leeland (and Jane) Ashcraft of Prineville, daughter Darla Ashcraft of Prineville, daughter Lisa (and Doug) West of Portland, and daughter Laura Diane of Bend.  Rae leaves the legacy of a large extended family.  Her grandchildren Jerred (and Correy) Ashcraft, Leslie (and John) Riley, Michael Honeywell, Ben (and Amanda) West, Danielle (and Brandon) Hardaway, Shane (and Sherry) Buening, and Jada (and Rick) Williams.  Her great grandchildren, Rachel and Randi Ashcraft, Moriah and Joslin Riley, Braylen and Kyan Hardaway, Stephanie Williams, and Ryan Shields.  Her great great grandson Aiden Williams and close family friend, Rick Buening.

She was preceded in death by parents Willard and Rosalia Gumpert, brother Arlen Gumpert, parents-in-law Jim Bob and Rachel Ashcraft, brother-in-law Jimmie Ashcraft, and numerous nieces and nephews, and many close friends.  She was also preceded by Daryle, her husband of 56 years.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, May 25 at 1pm at the Prineville Funeral Home, followed by a graveside service at Juniper Haven Cemetery.  A reception will be held directly thereafter at the Elks Lodge.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Elks Children’s Eye Clinic (c/o BPOE #1814, PO Box 538, Prineville, OR) or any charity of choice.

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