Revisiting the Class of 1948

Published 1:30 am Thursday, April 23, 2026

With the All Class Reunion this weekend I thought it might be a good time to revisit a column I wrote in 2008 when I wrote for the Peninsula Daily News West End Neighbor column. I had attended the 60th Reunion of the QUHS class of 1948. I knew most of them and my Aunt Betty was a class member so it was a fun time!

Here is that story …

In an old episode of the Andy Griffith Show Andy and Barney find their High School annual while moving an old trunk. As they look through it they reminisce about their former classmates and their high school “flames.” Inspired by the discovery they organize a class reunion. The evening of the reunion Barney waits to be reunited with Ramona, his high school sweetheart. When they finally meet she mistakes him for the bartender and orders 2 glasses of punch for her and her husband. Barney exclaims “come off it Ramona, it’s me Barney.” She apologizes and says “I’m sorry I don’t remember you.”

The Quillayute High School class of1948 would never experience Barney and Ramona’s scene. They have reunited for a 10th a 20th and a 50th reunion since they graduated and earlier this month they reunited for their 60th class reunion.

On June 3rd 1948 at 8 p.m. the commencement exercises for the Quillayute High school class of 1948 took place. The processional performed by Mary V. Rosmond, ushered in twenty seven seniors who received their diplomas that evening. Walter Roberge presented those diplomas.

The class Valedictorian, Harvey Green, delivered his speech entitled “Hobbies can be Educational.” Peggy Hamilton, the student selected speaker, presented “A Glance Backward” and Molly Iotte, the teacher selected speaker, delivered a speech called “Wartime Environment.”

When class president Lawrence Gaydeski greeted his former classmates at the recent class reunion, at the Smokehouse Restaurant in Forks, he said “it is amazing to get together with people that you went to school with sixty years ago.” When I asked the group to share some stories with me from their high school years, that were memorable or funny, I had a really hard time getting any takers.

Finally, Dixie Gaydeski volunteered a ‘he said she said’ scandal about her husband Lawrence. It seems that Helen James-Mason has always claimed that Lawrence copied off her paper and Lawrence has always claimed that Helen copied off of his. Class of ‘48 graduate Merle Watson offered up a personal story involving him and a friend skipping school one day. It seems they made their escape down Calawah Way and then to Merchant Road. They crossed the Calawah river, in February, and successfully navigated the “A” road undetected. Finally arriving at the Highway they stuck out their thumbs to hitchhike to freedom and the first car to stop was the Principal of the school.

After dinner those attending were asked to recount what they had been doing for the last 60 years. The rest of the evening was filled with laughter and reminiscing. Classmate Jack Quinn of Sequim brought home movies of schooldays in Forks.

Classmates attending the 60th reunion were Jack Quinn, Helen James-Mason, Marie Watson-Dorval, Betty Pedersen-Bernier, Molly Iotte-Betson, Peggy Hamilton-Beebe, Calvin Conley, Jim Mansfield, Dick Davidson, Bob Joutsen, Lawrence Gaydeski and Merle Watson. Classmates Ed Maupin and Donald Dalby were unable to attend. Of the original twenty seven graduates thirteen have passed on.

In the final scene of the Andy Griffith “reunion” episode, as Barney and Andy clean up after the party, they sing their highschool fight song. Andy says ”It kind of gets to you doesn’t it?” Barney says “Yeah, seeing all those people you knew as kids growing older kind of makes you sad.”

While there is sadness for their classmates that have passed on Quillayute High School class of 1948 is looking ahead and planning their next reunion. They decided not to wait 10 years but maybe next year. Because the next best thing to a 60th class reunion is a 61st.

Now, in 2026 most all those wonderful people from that class are gone. Born as the Great Depression started and growing up during WWII they were really special and it was great sharing that reunion with them …classmates …and friends even 60 years later.

The Forks All Class Reunion is this weekend …at the Elks doors open at 5 p.m., and $35 at the door …come visit with your former classmates, before it is too late!

Christi Baron, Editor