Renee Lee Whitney

Renee Lee Whitney, age 48, of Bayard, Nebraska, passed away Monday, December 9, 2024, at Regional West Medical Center, following a courageous battle with cancer. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m., Monday, December 16, 2024, at Community Bible Church in Bayard with Pastor Brad Kihlthau officiating. Inurnment will follow at Renee’s favorite place, the family creek, near Bayard. Memorials may be made to Camp Rock. Condolences may be expressed by visiting Renee’s obituary page viewable at www.reverencefuneralparlor.com where her service will be live-streamed.

Renee was born on November 4, 1976, in Brush, Colorado to Wayne and Rhonda (Wood) Whitney. She attended school in Ft. Morgan, Colorado before the family moved to Nebraska where she continued her education and graduated from Christian Heritage High School in Mitchell.

Renee had always wanted to be a mother, and her dream came true when she became the proud mom of Henry, Hanah, and Haley. She later joyfully welcomed five more children into her life: Ian, Owen, Emmet, Irene and Opal. Renee was a stern, but nurturing mother, always wanting the best for her family.

Renee managed several side businesses throughout the years, but her real passion was tending to her farm. She primarily raised chickens, cows, and goats, operating her own business supplying eggs, milk, cream, chicken, and other farm-raised goods. Renee was resourceful and canned hundreds of jars of produce from her garden every year. She made as much as she could from scratch even down to grinding wheat to make flour. Her homemade cooking was truly a labor of love.

Renee was an active member of Community Bible Church. She had deep faith all her life. Her most peaceful moments were spent with God. Renee liked listening to psalms and they were especially soothing to her during her cancer diagnosis. 

Survivors include her companion, Brian Pollock; children, Henry (Rebekah) Schmall, Hanah Schmall (Jessie Budd), Haley (Kris) Kizzire, and Ian, Owen, Emmet, Irene, and Opal Simpson; step-children, Dylan Pollock and Kelsey (Clay) Calhoun; five grandchildren, Atretes Schmall, Aria and Ezra Kizzire, Waylen Roach, and Dawsyn Budd; parents, Rhonda Whitney and Wayne Whitney; brothers and sisters-in-law, Roland (Krissy) Whitney, Wes (Cheri) Whitney, Shane Whitney, and Ross (Danielle) Whitney; in-laws, Lee and Linda Pollock; along with many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. 

Renee was preceded in death by her grandparents; infant daughter, Tori; uncle, Stuart Wood; and sister-in-law, Donna Whitney.