When she was about 20 years old, just newly married, Ima Lee Yoho of New Martinsville since her recent move from Proctor, began to learn the art of making quilts. In the 60 years since then she has probably created about 100 quilts. She has given them to her two daughters, her grandchildren, and her great-grandchildren. She has even sold some of her creations.

Ask her about her quilts and Yoho is fairly low key, but the importance of them is evidenced by the photo albums she keeps of pictures of her creations.

“Quilting is her passion. She’s a real artist,” said daughter Linda Siffrin.

But perhaps two of the most important quilts she has ever made might be the two she recently gave to her daughters, Marsha Kelley of Belpre, Ohio, and Siffrin of New Martinsville, to be raffled to make money for the American Cancer Society through their respective Relay for Life teams.

Kelley is the namesake of Marsha’s Mighty Mites that participates in the Washington County Relay for Life. She was diagnosed with stomach and chest cancer in October 2006, but is thankfully now in remission. That experience no doubt makes her resolve to raise money to fight cancer even greater.

Her team is raffling a creation of Yoho’s called Bits and Pieces, a quilt made from various calico prints.

Siffrin is part of the Dream Team that takes part in the Monroe County Relay for Life.

The team was formed for the group’s friend Beverly Durig who died of brain cancer two years ago. While the team is composed of residents from both sides of the Ohio River, they decided to participate in the Monroe County event since that is where Durig lived.

The local team began with 12 members. They have since lost two to cancer and half of the members are cancer survivors.

Obviously this is a personal fight for the team that has been so deeply touched by cancer.

“We’ve managed to raise $10,000 a year,” noted Siffrin. To raise that kind of cash the team works very hard and sponsors a lot of fund raisers.

This recent endeavor, raffling one of Yoho’s quilts, will hopefully help the group reach their monetary goal again this year. The Dream Team’s quilt is an English Elegance design with a predominantly blue and pink color scheme.

Tickets for the local raffle of the English Elegance quilt are $1 each or six for $5. They are available by calling Siffrin, 304-907-0264; Cheryl Gilmore, 740-483-1795; or Pat McDougal, 740-483-1963.