Doris Rosalie Carpenter

December 29, 1949 – July 17, 2025

Doris Rosalie (known as “Rosalie” to her family) Whitney Carpenter passed away unexpectedly in Lincoln Nebraska on July 17, 2025, at the age of 75.

Rosalie was born in Palmer, Nebraska to Barlow and Doris Whitney. She was a life learner and graduated from the University of Nebraska with a B.A. degree in Art and Psychology in 1976, in 1987 she obtained a Standard Degree from Portland State University to teach blind and visually impaired students, and she also obtained a M.S. degree in Education from Portland State University in 1991.  Rosalie also attended the University of Oklahoma, the University of Nevada Reno, and the Lewis and Clark College to study Psychology, Art, Geology, Russian language and Career Education.

Rosalie was a woman of many talents and interests, but her adult life was primarily focused on her artistic works. She loved art and devoted a large part of her adult life to painting in many mediums and styles. She enjoyed sharing her creative work and mentoring others. She worked at various jobs to support herself as a student and artist, culminating in a career as a teacher. She started her career as an educator for the Oregon Department of Education teaching and inspiring visually impaired students in the Portland Public Schools in 1990. She retired in 2012. Rosalie had a physically active lifestyle, including swimming, running and yoga – she became a yoga teacher so she could share her yoga practice with others. She was very health conscious and was a strict vegan for a significant part of her life.

Rosalie enjoyed traveling—visiting countries as far-flung as Turkmenistan, Cambodia, Russia, and China. After finishing college in Nebraska, she lived in several western states before settling down for her teaching career in Portland, Oregon. Shortly after her retirement from teaching she returned to Lincoln, Nebraska to be closer to family members.

Rosalie was preceded in death by her parents and two of her brothers, Barlow “Nick” Whitney and Harold Whitney. She is survived by five siblings, John Whitney (Reenie), Ronald Whitney (Kathy), Alice Brown, Linda Blow (Ed) and Lauran Whitney, and their families, as well as the family of Nick Whitney.

We are deeply saddened by Rosalie’s unexpected and sudden death, leaving a void in the hearts of family and friends and many more whose lives were touched by her. Her memory will live on with all those who loved her.

A graveside service will be held on August 2, 2025, at 11:00 AM at the Fullerton Cemetery on South 550th Street, in Fullerton, Nebraska.

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