Goodbye to Diane

In January 1997, Diane Schostak recently had been named the West End Regional Chamber of Commerce director. George McCormick

By Christi Baron • May 14, 2015 6:38 pm
Diane Schostak 1997.
Diane Schostak 1997.

In January 1997, Diane Schostak recently had been named the West End Regional Chamber of Commerce director. George McCormick, who was the Forks Forum editor at the time, did a column called Do You Know? If you did not have the pleasure of knowing Diane, this will give you a little idea of who she was and if you did know Diane, this will give you a little idea of who we have lost.

Name: Diane Schostak

Birth date and place: Born in Forks and taken home to the lower Hoh River, spring 1955

Occupation: West End Regional Chamber of Commerce director

Place of residence: Big Burn Place, an area burned in the fire of 1951, we have to explain to newcomers so they don’t think we are a bunch of pyromaniacs

Family: Husband Ken, corrections officer, step-daughter Nicole, 11-year-old daughter Crystal, who knows everything but the meaning of NO and 7-year-old daughter Pamela who wants a snake and has a dog named Christmas

High school/college/other: Attended high school in Forks and Salem, Ore., two years at the University of Oregon, just finished a full quarter at Peninsula College

Years in the area: 22 years

Hobbies: Pottery, sewing, reading time with kids or games with the family

Favorite color: Green

When I retire: Learn to fly a plane — I hope I don’t have to wait until I retire to do so

Best part of the week: Quiet times when I can regroup

Worst part of the week: Coming home after a busy day, the dog is jumping on me and we are out of milk

Highlight of your life: Named Washington State’s Travel and Tourism employee of the year in 1995

Biggest Surprise: Being told I just gave birth to an 11 pound baby girl

Embarrassing Moment: I admitted to Barb (my step-mom) that I thought cream of tarter was the main ingredient in tarter sauce

My favorite meal: Barb’s three cheese lasagne or anything else she cooks

Favorite beverage: Diet Coke

Favorite dine-out spot: Dad and Barb’s

Most cherished item: 1880s filigree ring and a box Ken bought me for Christmas one time

If I won $1 million: Take the kids to DisneyLand and give a chunk to the Forks Pool

Favorite way to relax: Walk on the beach

Last book read: “Little House on the Prairie” series

Question I would like to know the answer to: Why is gas always so much higher here?

What living in Forks means to me: It’s where secrets are safe with your hairdresser, where people tell you what you need to know, whether or not you asked, and where you will never be stranded for long.

It’s a piece of the real America where the fabric of the community is strong, where children can grow safely and the grapevine carries the good as well as the bad news. Our diversity, our distance, our history and our hardships combine to make this a strong, dynamic and independent community. When I talk about Forks, I can almost hear a fife and drum like that guy on the old show “Green Acres.”

An afternoon of remembrance is planned for Diane from 1-4:30 p.m. Saturday, May 16, at the Roundhouse at the Kit.la Center, 100 LaPush Road.

Goodbye to Diane

In January 1997, Diane Schostak recently had been named the West End Regional Chamber of Commerce director. George McCormick, who was the Forks Forum editor at the time, did a column called Do You Know? If you did not have the pleasure of knowing Diane, this will give you a little idea of who she was and if you did know Diane, this will give you a little idea of who we have lost.

Name: Diane Schostak

Birth date and place: Born in Forks and taken home to the lower Hoh River, spring 1955

Occupation; West End Regional Chamber of Commerce director

Place of residence: Big Burn Place, an area burned in the fire of 1951, we have to explain to newcomers so they don’t think we are a bunch of pyromaniacs

Family: Husband Ken, corrections officer, step-daughter Nicole, 11-year-old daughter Crystal, who knows everything but the meaning of NO and 7-year-old daughter Pamela who wants a snake and has a dog named Christmas

High school/college/other: Attended high school in Forks and Salem, Ore., two years at the University of Oregon, just finished a full quarter at Peninsula College

Years in the area: 22 years

Hobbies: Pottery, sewing, reading time with kids or games with the family

Favorite color: Green

When I retire: Learn to fly a plane — I hope I don’t have to wait until I retire to do so

Best part of the week: Quiet times when I can regroup

Worst part of the week: Coming home after a busy day, the dog is jumping on me and we are out of milk

Highlight of your life: Named Washington State’s Travel and Tourism employee of the year in 1995

Biggest Surprise: Being told I just gave birth to an 11 pound baby girl

Embarrassing Moment: I admitted to Barb (my step-mom) that I thought cream of tarter was the main ingredient in tarter sauce

My favorite meal: Barb’s three cheese lasagne or anything else she cooks

Favorite beverage: Diet Coke

Favorite dine-out spot: Dad and Barb’s

Most cherished item: 1880s filigree ring and a box Ken bought me for Christmas one time

If I won $1 million: Take the kids to DisneyLand and give a chunk to the Forks Pool

Favorite way to relax: Walk on the beach

Last book read: “Little House on the Prairie” series

Question I would like to know the answer to: Why is gas always so much higher here?

What living in Forks means to me: It’s where secrets are safe with your hairdresser, where people tell you what you need to know, whether or not you asked, and where you will never be stranded for long. It’s a piece of the real America where the fabric of the community is strong, where children can grow safely and the grapevine carries the good as well as the bad news. Our diversity, our distance, our history and our hardships combine to make this a strong, dynamic and independent community. When I talk about Forks, I can almost hear a fife and drum like that guy on the old show “Green Acres.”

An afternoon of remembrance is planned for Diane from 1-4:30 p.m. Saturday, May 16, at the Roundhouse at the Kit.la Center, 100 LaPush Road.