For someone who had so little and endured so much as she was growing, Dottie Quimby is helping to relieve the pain of others in the autumn of her life.

Such generosity brings out the best in the Auburn woman, who remains active and resourceful behind the scenes.

“I had a rough life,” said the 87-year-old Quimby, “but I came to make a better life for myself.”

Quimby is a busy member of the Fraternal Order of Auburn Eagles No. 2298 – a civic/social organization committed to serving the community and supporting many charitable causes. Quimby, in her fifth year with the Eagles, has been instrumental in raising money for its cancer research charity fund. In her three years as chairperson for the cause, Quimby helped secure $20,000 in grants from the order to benefit the Mary Bridge and Seattle children’s hospitals.

For her tireless efforts, Quimby was nominated to be this year’s Pioneer Queen. She unanimously was chosen for the honor and will wear the crown and participate in the Good Ol’ Days grand parade Aug. 9. She also plans to appear in other parades and city functions throughout the year.

Colleen Gano, fellow Eagle member, sponsored Quimby.

“I was really surprised,” Quimby said. “I am very honored to be chosen as queen.

“I am a person that if chosen to do something, I like to carry it out.”

An officer with many duties with the Eagles, Quimby hopes to soon become auxiliary president. For now, she is committed to helping children with cancer.

“I want them to have a life better than the one I had,” she said.

Born in Louisville, Ky., Quimby came from humble beginnings. Her mother died when she was young, her father died years later. Her household suffered through the Depression, as did many families at the time.

Raised by her grandparents, she graduated from high school and became a self-made woman. She worked many jobs, becoming a jack-of-all-trades.

She was a waitress, then worked in a gun plant during the war. She then moved to San Diego, where she worked 15 years as a riveter manufacturing tail cones for a company’s fighter jet.

She eventually moved to the Northwest, where she met her husband, Bill. Their daughter and a granddaughter live in the area.

The couple will be married 35 years come November and plan to celebrate the occasion with a “hillbilly wedding” at the Eagles.

“He and I are crazy people, and we end up doing crazy things,” Quimby said.

The couple once lived in Orlando, Fla., for 10 years, working in creative costuming at Disney World. But family brought them back to Auburn and a slower lifestyle.

They enjoy being around people and each other.

“And we enjoy helping people,” she said. “My brothers and sisters here have made it possible for me to do what I’m doing today.”

Quimby enjoys dancing and taking care of her husband.

The secret to her longevity is really no secret at all – be active, be helpful, be happy.

“I’m going to live to be 100,” she said without hesitation.