Emily Louise Whitney

Emily Louise (“Emmy Lou”) Whitney, 87, died Tuesday (5/27/2008) in Aurora. Beloved mother and grandmother, Emily will be remembered for her loving acceptance of others, her appreciation for books and the life of the mind, for her love of animals, beauty, and harmony, and for her moderation in all things.

Born July 12, 1920, in York, Nebraska, Emily graduated from York High School in 1938 and York College Business School in 1940, where she met Charles L. Whitney of Aurora. After business school, Emily moved with her family to Wichita, Kansas, where she proudly worked at Beech Aircraft until her marriage in 1942. Emily’s great adventure followed--moving with Charles to Seattle where he was stationed as a naval officer. After Seattle they also lived briefly in Miami, New York City, and Chicago. When the war ended they returned to Nebraska and raised their four children as he established the law practice that she also helped to build.

Over the years Emily was an active member of the Methodist Church, the PEO sisterhood, the Aurora Public Library Board, The Hamilton Community Foundation, and her bridge club. She held a lifelong interest in journalism, contributing original articles to statewide newspapers, as well as writing poetry and an unpublished novel. With her positive outlook, Emily was outraged by social injustice and consistently worked at bettering the lives of others. She actively supported a Laotian refugee family through her work with the church resettlement program, and she and Charles were foster parents for several years.

Emily is survived by her children and their partners: Chuck Whitney and Valorie Walker of Anchorage, Alaska; Anne Whitney and Scott Thompson of Lincoln; Mary Whitney of San Francisco; Bill and Jan Whitney of Aurora; and by her four grandchildren: Sarah Whitney Thompson, Lewis Whitney Thompson, Erin Jean Whitney, Laura Brown Whitney, and by niece Cathy Colman and nephew Peter Colman. Preceded in death by her husband Charles, her parents Charles and Bernice Rothman, and sister Jane Colman.

Funeral service to be held at the United Methodist Church, Aurora, 2 pm, Friday, May 30. Visitation to precede the funeral service. 1-2 pm, United Methodist Church. Memorials to United Methodist Church and Prairie Plains Resource Institute, c/o the family, 1219 16th St., Aurora. Higby-McQuiston Mortuary, Aurora, Nebraska, is in charge of arrangements.