Obituary of Doree N. Pitkin

Doree N. Pitkin, 73, of Santa Fe, New Mexico, formerly of Greeley, Colorado, passed away at her home on Thursday, August 24, 2023.  Doree was born on September 24, 1949 to Lowell and Doris (Ormesher) Nelson in North Platte, Nebraska.  She grew up in North Platte and graduated from North Platte High School in 1967.  Doree received her Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from the University of Nebraska at Kearney and her Master’s degree in Arts Management from the University of Illinois at Springfield.  She married Gary Pitkin on May 27, 1972 in Kearney. 

As an artist, Doree used different mediums to express her creative spirit.  Her landscape photography was named “best of show” at numerous multi-media exhibitions, and individual photographs have been published in books and magazines and also adorn homes, offices, and other venues.  Doree’s dolls of senior women have toured the country, including the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Smithsonian Institution.  As a fabric artist, Doree also created pieced jackets for her clients.

Doree volunteered often to share her seamstress skills by participating in workshops to help others.  Most significantly, she taught many refugees from Myanmar how to make their own clothing and other necessities.

Based on her writing and editorial skills, she held editorial roles with Illinois History, the Journal of Developmental Education, The Quarterly, and Herb Companion, among others.  She also published numerous articles focused on fabric art and master gardening.

She is survived by her husband Gary of Santa Fe; her daughters, Claire Pitkin and husband Griz Olofson of Greeley, CO, and Rachael Pitkin and husband John Peden of Villanueva, NM; her grandson, Rhonan Peden of Villanueva, NM; and her siblings, Kristine Cecava and husband Richard of Omaha, NE, Kevin Nelson and wife Constance of Cheshire, CT, Locklin Nelson and Kathleen Dungan of Grayslake, Il, and Jana Scheidler and husband George of Colorado Springs, CO.  She was proceeded in death by her parents.

A Life Celebration open house will be held Saturday, September 23, 2023 from 2:00pm – 5:00pm with opportunities to speak beginning at 3:00p.m. at Adamson Life Celebration Home, 2000 W. 47^th Ave., Greeley, CO  80634.   Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association in care of Adamson Life Celebration Home.

Please send condolences to her family at adamsoncares.com.