The Carrie Young Memorial dinner and auction Dec. 4 at the John Day Elks Lodge.

JOHN DAY — One woman’s devotion to her late sister was reflected in the glow illuminating from inside the John Day Elks Lodge Friday night.

Holiday lights and 162 gift baskets and other items up for auction filled nearly every spot in all corners of the lodge at the Dec. 4 Carrie Young Memorial.

And the community turned out in full force, packing the lodge to bid on the wide selection of goodies and feast on a by-donation spaghetti dinner.

This event raised $18,000, exceeding last year’s total by about $4,000.

Lucie Immoos, the organizer of the event, greeted those attending the memorial and beamed at the overwhelming success.

“I couldn’t do this without all the vendors and people who donate,” she said.

She also credited Sharrie Slinkard, Teri Bowden and Dawn Wood for their tremendous assistance and support.

Immoos launched the event in memory of her sister, Carrie Young, who was killed in a car accident in 1993.

Young was a certified nurse’s assistant who worked at Blue Mountain Care Center and Blue Mountain Hospital. She had a soft spot for the elderly, especially those with Alzheimer’s disease. Soon after Young’s death, Immoos and several co-workers pitched in enough money to buy several gifts for local nursing home residents.

Now, 22 years later, proceeds from the fundraiser are enough to buy gifts and everyday living items for patients at all four local assisted living facilities, plus assist with electricity, heating oil, groceries and more for 150 homebound and elderly people in Grant County.

Following the memorial, Immoos and a team of volunteers head out on a shopping excursion for all the gifts and other goods. Local high schoolers assist with the wrapping and delivering.

“I just want to thank this county,” Immoos said. “The generosity of this county is to be commended.”