A potluck memorial service for Lawrence Gaydeski is scheduled for the Old Mill Roundhouse at 110 Business Park on Saturday, Dec. 8 beginning at 1 p.m.

Gaydeski passed away on Sunday, Nov. 18 from complications related to diabetes.

Gaydeski served three terms as the West End’s Clallam County Commissioner, beginning in 1982.

The Gaydeski family’s homestead is located north of Forks along the Sol Duc River. The family arrived in the West End in the early 1900s and first settled at a site known as the Polish Settlement, near the Dickey River. The settlement was named for its founders the Gaydeski and Warminski and other Polish families who had moved from Nebraska in the late 1800s.

After about five years later the Gaydeski family moved to their homestead at Shuwah, along the Sol Duc River. The family homestead is located today along Gaydeski Road where family members live on subdivided sections of the original homestead.

Lawrence’s memorial service will be led by his life-long friend Merle Watson. The two grew up together and served as class officers for the Forks High School Class of 1948. Lawrence worked as a logger for three decades and operated a cedar shake mill with Cliff Thayer.

Lawrence is survived by his wife Dixie, who was his sweetheart during their years at Forks High School. He was born in Sappho on Nov. 11, 1930 to Stephen and Louise Gaydeski. The couple raised six children.