Submitted by: Ruth Filz

Who would have thought that selling a rhubarb pie for $55 dollars in 2015, would lead to selling an apple pie for $250 and raising $2,580 for charities in 2023!

In 2015, Phyllis Tillotson asked Vonnie Jones if she would bake a rhubarb pie to sell at Palm Gardens RV Park’s annual park auction. It was the first time a pie was sold at the auction. There was a bidding war for the pie between Phyllis and Roger Jacobs. Roger ultimately got the pie with a $55 bid. As events were planned for the following year, it was decided to add a Pie Auction to our calendar and donate the money to local charities.

Phyllis and her husband Kermit came to Palm Gardens in 2004 from Mound View, Kansas and fell in love with the park and its residents. Phyllis was active in the park, playing cribbage every chance she had, spoiling her cat and Kermit’s dog Jack, doing blood pressure checks at the weekly Koffee Klatch, helping out wherever needed, and making the best lasagna (according to their daughter).

Oh yes, and she loved pies!

Phyllis passed away in 2018. In recognition of Phyllis’ involvement in the park and that she first suggested selling a pie at our auction, the pie auction became the Phyllis Tillotson Memorial Pie Auction and is held every year in her memory.

This year the park sold a variety of pies and cakes, including Vonnie Jones’ rhubarb pie, and we raised $2,580 for charities and residents enjoyed some delicious desserts.

Over the past several years, we have made donations to the following charities with the proceeds from our pie auctions: Boys and Girls Club, Humane Society, Loaves and Fishes, Stuart Place School Hosting, and Valley Haven.