The gentle woman slowly put down vintage photos of her yesteryears on a table filled with albums and momentos. She rubbed her worn hands, and then glanced into the cloudy afternoon sky.

The Auburn woman appeared momentarily lost in thought as she followed the path of a streaking commercial jet.

“I think some of my planes are still flying today, you know,” she said with a soft smile. “I tried, you know. I did my best. I was doing something for the company, for our country and for our men.”

Having spent a lifetime helping others, Vickie Vallier understands the importance of hard work, duty and sacrifice.

As a girl growing up in rural Kansas during the Depression, Vallier walked miles to the local café to work as a waitress. The pay was 50 cents an hour, but it helped support her struggling single mother and siblings.

As a 19-year-old who had never seen the bright lights of a major city, Vallier followed her family to Seattle where she learned a trade and helped build combat aircraft on Boeing’s massive assembly line during World War II.

As an active volunteer, a supporter of numerous causes and a friend to many in Auburn – her community for more than 50 years – Vallier continues her work today.

Appearing fit and sharp, the slight, strongly independent woman frequently opens her house and heart to others. It is her drive and nature.

“I’ve always been friendly and maybe outgoing, maybe that’s my spark in life,” said Vallier, a compassionate woman of deep faith who celebrates her 87th birthday on Feb. 21.

“It is who I am.”

A spirited go-getter today, Vallier wasn’t afraid to try new things back then. In doing so, she had her hands in history, having played an important role in America’s wartime effort that helped equip pilots destined to fly in harm’s way.

For Vallier, it was a matter of pride and obligation, part of a desperate country’s mobilization of a newfound women’s work force. It was a circumstantial role reversal in the country, a movement brought on by necessity to replace battle-bound men with young women willing to pick up a rivet gun, file records and drive a delivery cart.

Vallier did as much – and more – joining a generation of women iconically known as “Rosie the Riveters.” Vallier was one of the thousands of women who rolled up their sleeves, gripped heavy tools and worked the manufacturing plant when their husbands and fathers were overseas fighting a war on two fronts.

She and her co-workers labored in Boeing’s Plant 2, a factory that cranked out a dozen B-17 bombers a day during the height of the war.

“It was a whole different breed in those days. Those gals were really workers,” said Virginia Haugen, friend and former Boeing worker for 15 years. “These women were used to hard work.

“I can’t imagine a woman her size bucking rivets, but she did,” Haugen added. “To me, she represents the real American way, when the country was at war. She represents an America that many don’t know about today.

“I’m particularly inspired by people like Vickie.”

Good fit for job

Like many small and nimble women, the 5-foot-6, 110-pound Vallier was able to work in side wings and other cramped spaces to install wiring, tubing and other parts.

She worked long and hard. She grew and matured. She never looked back.

“It was just amazing after growing up in such a small town in Kansas. I had never been to Seattle,” Vallier said. “It was just a wonderful opportunity. I was able to meet new people, learn a new trade and get a good job.

“I wanted to earn some money, and I wanted to help our country,” she added.

Vallier and her siblings went to work early and often to support each other, especially after losing the family’s patriarch, a Polish immigrant coal worker, in a mining accident when Vallier was a baby.

Vallier, who survived a bout of life-threatening double pneumonia when she was 10, learned how to cook from her mother at an early age. She found seasonal work as a waitress before joining the Boeing assembly line at three different plants over an eight-year period.

After the war ended and men returned to the factories, Vallier worked a variety of jobs – from daycare worker to waitress, car hop to secretary. She worked at a plastics factory, picked green beans in the valley and volunteered at schools, hospitals and church.

She met and married a railroad worker, only to lose him to alcoholism and later, to cancer at age 39.

As a young widow, she raised a daughter, Pam, and later, took in another girl as a foster mom.

Vallier later remarried, meeting a fellow Kansasian, Rex. They enjoyed 37 years together until his death 10 years ago.

Despite hardship and depression, Vallier regained her feet with the support of strong faith, family and friends.

She continues to help those who have helped her.

Just as busy today

Today she remains a whirlwind, caring for friends, whether that means driving seniors around to appointments or helping those in need.

She stays active at Grace Community Church, service groups and community efforts. She is a regular at the “Y.”

And she marvels at the growth and success of her grandchildren.

She stays close to good friends, doing good things. She enjoys each day.

“She’s a special, special person in everything she does,” said longtime friend Eldora LaCount.

Hilde Hume has known Vallier for more than 30 years. They are two of the original members of the “Swim and Trim Girls” club that meets regularly at the local pool.

“The things she does at her age are honestly, amazing,” Hume said. “She’s always by my side. I don’t have to ask.”

Added longtime friend Shirley Derrick, who met Vallier during their frequent wintertime travels together around Southern California and Mexico: “She loves everyone and never sees the bad in people. She sees the good.”

Vallier enjoys extending a helping hand. It is her calling. It is through her many friends that she was able to survive the many ups and downs.

“I’ve had some setbacks, but it’s been a wonderful life,” she said.

“I’m not afraid to try new ideas, try new things in life. … I just try to be a friend to anybody I meet.”