Auction raises thousands for Lions

When Bob and Shawn Taylor moved their three ranch estates from Western Oregon, they didn't have room for all the stuff.

"We couldn't keep it all," said Shawn Taylor. "So we decided to auction it all off and give the proceeds to a good cause."

The Taylors chose the Three Sisters Lions Club (which sponsors Habitat for Humanity in the Sisters area) as the recipient of their fund-raiser.

"Bob used to be a Lion, and I'm with the Kiwanis -- but we thought the Lions would be great to work with," said Taylor.

The auction was held Saturday, September 28, on Hurtley Ranch Road.

The sale featured antiques and collectibles, tools, furniture, barn and garden equipment. A rummage sale was held separately from the auction, offering everything from clothing to books to dolls.

"Everything went!" said Taylor. "There wasn't a thing left by Sunday morning. It was absolutely wonderful. The spirit of Sisters was there that day, shining down on us."

Three Central Oregon auctioneers kept the event moving.

"The antiques went for a lot," said Taylor. "People came from Sisters and all over. We advertised on five radio stations, besides The Nugget and The Bulletin. We had a crowd."

About 40 volunteers helped with the auction.

"The guys who work at the rodeo came and did security," she said. "When it was all over, we sat down to a big dinner of fresh steelhead and corn on the cob."

Taylor estimates the auction brought in just under $20,000, but declined to give the exact amount.

"I'm going to present the check to the Lions Club this week," she explained. "And I want them to be the first to know."