Dora Lee Whitney

A Memorial Service for Dora L. Whitney will be held on Saturday, December 4, 2021, at 1:00 p.m. at Trinity Evangelical Free Church in Holdrege, Nebraska, with Pastors Eric Hoehn and Murray Jones officiating.  The family asks that you follow proper CDC guidelines.

This service will be live streamed via the Trinity Evangelical Free Church's webpage: https://theporchlife.org/watch-live

Dora Lee Whitney, 57 years of age, of Holdrege, went to be with the Lord, on Tuesday, November 16, 2021, at the Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege. Dora was born on July 22, 1964, in McPherson, Kansas, the eighth of nine children born to Clarence and Dorothy (Bissell) Phillips.  She received her primary education from Arnold Public Schools, and then attended and graduated from North Platte High School with the class of 1982.  She pursued higher education from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and received her Bachelors of Science Degree, with a Major in Horticulture.

On May 10, 1986, (also her college graduation day), Dora was united in marriage to Todd Whitney in Lincoln, Nebraska. This union was blessed with two children: Larissa; and Logan.  Dora owned and operated the Spring Sprouts Green House in Oakley, Kansas, for six seasons; while also working as a Farm Bureau secretary and in the Clerk of District Court in Oakley, Kansas. The family moved to Lyons, Kansas in 1996, where Dora worked in the District Court office and later clerical for the City of Lyons. In 2000, the family transferred to Concordia, Kansas, with Kansas State Extension. It was at this time that Dora launched her 20 plus year substitute teaching career. Prior to her death, her most significant substitute teaching contributions were with the Southern Valley Public Schools.

Dora thoroughly enjoyed her family and sharing memories through Facebook. Dora also thrived on growing plants; gardening; landscaping; and sharing her horticulture background, stemming back to her all-high school employment with the UNL West Central Research Experiment Station and her internship with the Denver Botanical Gardens.

She will be remembered for her caring spirit; giving nature; service to Christ, and her active membership at Trinity Evangelical Free Church.  Dora also provided humor and was known for sharing digital 'gifts' and re-posting many inspirational and humorous social media messages.

Dora was preceded in death by: her father, Clarence A. Phillips, Jr; her mother, Dorothy E. Phillips Moore; and her step-father, Willard Moore; three brothers: Charles Phillips; James Phillips; Jeff Phillips; and one sister, Rita Phillips.

Survivors include: her husband, Todd Whitney of Holdrege; her children: Larissa Whitney and granddaughter Kendra, of Hays, Kansas; and son, Logan Whitney and his wife, Miranda, of Louisville, Kentucky; five brothers: Bert (Paula Wasinger) Phillips of Ellis, Kansas; John Phillips of Arnold, Nebraska; Paul (Sue) Phillips of Windsor, Colorado; Tim (Cynthia) Phillips of  Highland Ranch, Colorado; and Don (Tori) Phillips of Pasadena, Texas; five sisters: Mitzi (Jim) Gartrell of Wallace Nebraska; Leitha (Wade) King of Ellis, Kansas; Celia (Raymon) Lawson of Oakley, California; Julia Patterson of Texas; and Brenda Grantzinger of Mexico; along with many nieces, nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends.

The family has honored her wish for cremation.  There will not be viewing.  A Memorial Book Signing will be held on Friday, December 3, 2021, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege, with the family greeting friends from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

An additional Celebration of Life will be held in 2022.

A memorial has been established in Dora's honor and kindly suggested to an education fund to be established for her granddaughter, Kendra. https://everloved.com/life-of/dora-whitney/

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.