Obituary of Claudine Jean Cram Weiks

Claudine Jean Cram Weiks was born to Velma and George Cram on June 5, 1925, in Walla Walla, WA. At the age of four, she moved to Olympia with her family. She attended Olympia schools and graduated from Olympia High School in 1943. She married, E. George Weiks, her high school sweetheart, on June 25, 1943. The couple originally lived on the Weiks’ family farm and Evergreen Dairy in Littlerock, where Claudine joined the other 11 brothers and sisters of the large family. There was a lot to do on a working farm. Helping the sisters-in-law with the bunkhouse cooking, cleaning and canning began her interest in cooking. The food was home grown and fit for a king. In the early 1940’s, they moved away from the farm and into Olympia to establish a distribution center, in downtown Olympia, for the diary farm products. A subsequent move to Tumwater, resulted in life-long friendships centered around the Tumwater Volunteer Fire Department. These friendships and others were cemented at the Scott Lake Golf Course. The golfing years were a source of memories and hilarious laughter for family and friends. In August, 1959, the Weiks brothers launched the Sea Mart Shopping Center in downtown Olympia. With Yard Birds, as a Sea Mart tenant, the two buildings redefined the northern perimeter for Olympia’s downtown core. The venture also changed the concept for retail. Claudine was apprehensive about the new project but realized that anything the Weiks family resolved to do would be accomplished. She was extremely proud of the family’s entrepreneurial spirit and the contribution made to the Olympia Community. In Claudine’s kitchen, the coffee pot was always on. There was always homemade pie, cake or cookies. The candy dish was filled. She was an excellent cook—learned from her sisters-in-law and a life-long interest in recipe collecting. She was a gracious hostess. Weekend parties were frequent. Her warm and friendly personality endeared her to many. Even with her progressing illness, her humor and wit surprised and amazed her caregivers. She will forever be the #1 fan of her grandchildren, Tanner and Tayler. They brought great pleasure to her and she supported their scholastic and sports achievements with the love, only a grandmother can give. She was preceded in death by her husband, E. George in 1980; her parents; her sister, Mildred Wallace; and several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law. She is survived by her children, Pam Panowicz (Rick); George Douglas Weiks; Kevin Weiks (Tammy) and their children Tanner and Tayler; and many nieces and nephews. A memorial and celebration of Claudine’s life will be held for the family and her close friends, at the Olympia Country and Golf Club, 3636 Country Club Dr. NW, Olympia on November 8, 2007 at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Hands On Children’s Museum of Olympia or Assured Hospice-Home Health. Please leave your memories of Claudine and condolences for the family by clicking on the "View Guestbook" link below.