CAMDEN – Michele Whitney, 65, died peacefully July 20, 2006, at The Gardens of Quarry Hill in Camden after a courageous, five year battle with breast cancer. Born April 1, 1941, in New York, N.Y., she was the first child of Raymond L. and Virginia (Phillips) Whitney. Michele graduated from Clifford J. Scott High School in East Orange, N.J. and from Middlebury College in Vermont in 1963. She worked as a writer-researcher for Time and Money magazines and as a speech writer for Citicorp, now Citibank. In 1984, she established her own freelance editorial business in New York and later continued freelancing in New Orleans, La., Charlotte, N.C. and most recently in Roanoke, Va. Michele enjoyed traveling, creative writing, sailing, tennis, music and watercolor painting. She was a member of the Second Presbyterian Church of Roanoke, Va., and of the Time-Life Alumni Society. As a child Michele spent summers with her family at their cottage in Surry. It was to Maine she chose to return during her final illness. She was predeceased by her father in 1971; and her brother, Lawrence in 1996. She is survived by her mother of Blue Hill; her sister, Patricia Messler of Rockport; her nephew, Timothy Messler of New York; her sister-in-law, Irene Whitney of Surry; four aunts and many cousins. She will be sorely missed by the many friends she made everywhere she lived and by her ex-husband, George Telfer of Roanoke; Va.; and her ex-brother-in-law, Joseph D. Messler of Lincolnville. A memorial service will be held 1 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 2, at the First Congregational Church in Blue Hill. Memorial donations for those who wish to make a contribution in Michele’s memory may be made to the Second Presbyterian Church, 214 Mountain Ave., SW Roanoke, VA 24016 or to the The Komen Foundation, 5005 LBJ Fwy., Suite 250, Dallas, TX 75244. Arrangements are with the Laite Funeral Home, 9 Mountain St., Camden.
MICHELE WHITNEY
