Ruby Gail Whitney

     Ruby Gail (Stites) Whitney, 83, of Cañon City, Colorado, passed peacefully on September 6, 2025, following a brief illness. 

     Born March 24, 1942, in Alva, Oklahoma, to Theodore Harold and Myrtle Naomi (Baxter) Stites, Ruby was the youngest of five siblings, all of whom preceded her in death: Harold Wesley Stites, Mary Laverna (Stites) Hall, Donald Vincent Stites, and her twin, Judy Carol (Stites) Schmatt. Ruby was also preceded in death by brothers-in-law Leo Kenneth Hall, Larry Eugene Schmatt, George Stephen Whitney, and James Nelson Whitney; nephews Kenneth Dean Hall, Jared James Whitney, and Nelson Stephen Whitney; son-in-law Norman Ray Shoemaker; and her beloved husband of 44 years, Frederic Roy Whitney.

     Ruby is survived by sisters-in-law Joyce (Kee) Stites, Carol (Bowers) Stites, Barbara (Goeglein) Noakes, and Shirley (Hopkins) Whitney, many cousins, nieces, nephews, her four daughters, her son-in-law, and grandchildren: Shawnalee Anne Whitney (Steven Lee Johnson, Jen YingKai Johnson, Mamie KangFei Johnson), Katrina Shelleen (Whitney) Shoemaker (Jay Evan Shoemaker [Andrea] and Creed Jeremy “CJ” Weaver), Rochelle Lizette Whitney, and Vanessa Tremaine Whitney.

     In the summer of 1961, Ruby met the love of her life, Frederic Roy Whitney, in Cañon City. They married June 3, 1962, making their home and raising their four daughters in Cañon City. Ruby was known and admired for devoting herself to improving the lives of others, especially children, and to being involved in the community. A woman of faith, she was active in the churches she attended. A lover of music, she was involved in church choir, performed in handbell choir, sang in Sweet Adelines, and provided dulcet soprano notes when the family sang four-part harmony in the car on long road trips. She served others in the community through organizations including as a Girl Scout leader and as an active member of the PTA. When her children were young, she ran an in-home day care. As her girls grew, she drew on her experience as a nurse’s aide at Omaha’s Children’s Hospital, to work as a school nurse. She closed out her time working for Fremont RE-1 schools by supporting children as a para-professional in Title I special education programs in math and reading. It brought her great joy to help children to learn to read. 

     Ruby was an avid reader, a Bronco fan, and a devoted pet lover. She had a green thumb and was happy to tend flowers, grow veggies, and harvest grapes from the decades-old vine in the Whitney backyard to make amazing grape jelly! A talented seamstress, Ruby sewed clothing for herself and her girls, as well as for many dolls and teddy bears. She expertly decked her daughters out in Halloween outfits, theatre costumes, and perhaps dozens of choir dresses, along with choir dresses for others whose moms weren’t quite as handy with a needle and thread. Ruby was also creative in other ways, making cards and holiday crafts, and she especially cherished her time doing these activities with her twin sister, Judy. Ruby and Fred enjoyed time visiting beloved sites around Colorado, across the country, and outside of the US. Above all, Ruby believed in the power of kindness and that caring for others can make a genuine difference in this world. 

     In that spirit of kindness and caring for others, in lieu of flowers, Ruby and her family request that you consider a memorial contribution to one of the following options: The Ruby Whitney Memorial Fund to go to the Youth Services division of the Cañon City Public Library (attn: Kendra McFall) or The Fred and Ruby Whitney Memorial Fund to go toward a River Walk project with the Cañon City Recreational District (attn: Kyle Horne).  https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/canoncityrecdistrict/donation/detail/3?onlineSiteId=0&recurring=false

      Arrangements are through Holt Family Funeral Home in Cañon City. Those who wish to pay respects in person will gather at Holt Chapel of the Garden, Tuesday, September 16, for visitation (11:00 am), a memorial and celebration of life (12:00 pm), and a brief reception following the service. Please contact the family for possible options to attend online. Ruby will be laid to rest near her parents, her brother, Wes, and alongside Fred in a private interment ceremony at Lakeside Cemetery.

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