TORRINGTON – Gwendolyn Faye (McKie) Whitney died May 16, 2022, at Torrington Community Hospital.
She was born March 25, 1939, at Omaha, Nebraska to Lawrence E. and Lamoine M. (Nelson) McKie. At her request, cremation has occurred, and no services are to be held, with private family inurnment of the cremains to be conducted at a later date. Colyer Funeral Home rendered professional services.
Memorials may be directed to Goshen Care Center in Torrington.
She attended four grades of school at Tecumseh, Neb. and moved to Bayard, Neb. where she attended country schools and completed her education and graduated from Bayard High School in 1957. She then attended the University of Wyoming and graduated in 1961 with a degree in music education.
She did her Student Teaching in Torrington, and taught music in Thermopolis.
She married Keith E. Whitney, June 3, 1962, in Torrington at the First Wyoming United Presbyterian Church and they resided in Torrington from that time forward. To this marriage two sons were born, Michael Dean and Jeffrey Alan Whitney.
Music was a great passion in Gwen’s life. Early in high school at Bayard, Neb., she became the church organist. She accompanied choir and soloists’ musicals in High School. While at the University of Wyoming she accompanied the University production of “The King and I.” She accompanied nine consecutive high school musical productions for Torrington High School. She was church organist for the First Wyoming United Presbyterian Church for over 14 years and performed Organ-Piano duets with her mother to the enjoyment of those attending.
She taught piano at home. She accompanied students in the classroom for musicals and contests. She accompanied many soloists whether it was for school, church, weddings or funerals. She tackled difficult musical scores with preparation, organization and performance for her musical endeavors.
She organized the first English Hand bell Choir in Torrington, coordinating the skills of area ringers and attended workshops throughout the region in an effort to pass on learned skills to the ringers known as “The Rhythmic Ringers.”
She was a member of the First Wyoming United Presbyterian Church of Torrington, AAUW, Friends of Music, Honored Queen of Job’s Daughters, a 50-year member of Eastern Star and wasnamed as one of America’s Outstanding Young Women. While at the University of Wyoming she was a member of Chi Omega Sorority, Tau Beta Sigma as well as a music fraternity.
She is survived by her husband of 59 years, son Michael Dean Whitney and his children Brittany, Joshua, Jayden and Gabrielle, his Grand-daughter Adelyne Isle Klunder; and son Jeffrey Alan Whitney’s children Blake, Brandon and Bryce, nieces. Elizabeth Stafford and Catherine LaValley.
Preceding her in death were her parents, son Jeffrey Alan Whitney and her sister, JoDene McKie.
