Three childhood friends meet in Sisters

Barbara Barker, Audrey Kallio, Sylvia Gee (left to right) gathered in Sisters for a reunion. They've known each other for 50 years. photo by Nikki Lewis Nearly 70 years ago, at the age of 10, three girls began a life journey together in Huddersfield, Yorkshire that paused for a few days in Sisters last week.

Audrey Kallio, Barbara Barker and Sylvia Gee celebrated their 80th birthdays together in the beautiful settings of Sisters and the Oregon Coast.

The women met in school and all began work together at the age of 16 as telephone operators.

As the years passed, their lives went in different directions but their hearts never strayed. Through marriage and children, happiness and heartache, these women aged their friendship like a fine wine.

Audrey Kallio became a resident of Sisters 26 years ago when she and her late husband built their house on Bradley Road. This week was the first time all three women had been together in Sisters.

"It is such an interesting and beautiful place," said Sylvia Gee.

The women enjoyed themselves wandering through the town with pocketbooks in tow.

"Oh, I must say, we have left a lot of money in Sisters," said Gee.

The women have had the chance to reunite a few times over the years; this time they noticed the conversations have aged with each other.

"All our sentences begin with 'Do you remember' or 'Can you believe how thin we were at 16?'" said Barbara Barker.