Candace Faye “Candy” Roberts, 66, of Orrick, Mo., passed away November 9, 2020, at her daughter’s home in Orrick, shortly after midnight, following a brief illness.
Candy was born February 8, 1954, in Kirksville, Mo., to Dale Leon and Billie Francis (Thomas) Roberts.
Candy spent her early life in Green City, Mo., Braymer, Mo., Coon Rapids, Iowa, Hayden, Colo., and Monroe City, Mo. The Roberts’ family moved to Orrick in 1969 when her dad became superintendent of schools there. Candy graduated from Orrick High School in 1972.
Following high school, she worked at Haldex as a customer service representative in the Kansas City area and was a para-professional for several years at Orrick High School. Her brother, Tommy, who had Down Syndrome, endeared her to individuals who faced challenges of any kind.
Candy will be remembered as a caring, kind, and compassionate mother, daughter and sister. She put her family first in every aspect of life, always being readily available for whatever her children and grandchildren needed. She was attentive to her parents and supportive of her siblings, and one of the first to respond to a friend in need. Candy was of the Methodist faith. She will be missed by all who loved her but whose lives were enriched from knowing her.
She learned to survive the embarrassment her three brothers put her through, with their constant teasing of her and her friends. She carried her good-natured humor and fun-loving personality nurtured by their relationship throughout life.
She is survived by her two children, Kimberly Dorton and Willie Duncan, both of Orrick, Mo.; her former husband, Tim Duncan, Fleming, Mo.; granddaughter, Ashlin (Brandon) McKinney, and great granddaughter, Scarlett McKinney, all of Excelsior Springs, Mo.; Jaxon Dorton of Orrick, Mo.; her mother, Billie Roberts, Orrick, Mo.; two brothers, Ronald Dale (Mary) Roberts, Phoenix, Ariz., and Sandy Talmadge Roberts, Lexington, Mo.; nieces, Suzanne Roberts, Normal, Ill., and Julie (Geoff) Shepherd, Novato, Calif.; great nieces, Ashley Reeves, LaMesa, Calif., Cali and Zoe Shepherd, Novato, Calif., and great nephew, Brandon Reeves, Grand Prairie, Texas; aunts, Virginia Dehm and Mary Jean Thomas, Milan, Mo., and Betty Gerst, Independence, Mo.; cousins, Judy and Janey Rouse, Mike Dehm, Dennis and Joe Wyatt, and Carroll Lynn and Clayton Thomas.
She was preceded in death by her father, Dale Roberts, and brother, Thomas Lynn “Tommy” Roberts, both of Orrick; aunts, Lucille Rouse and Irene Wyatt; uncles, Harold Roberts, Elwin Rouse, John Gerst, Howard Dehm, and Carlyle Thomas; and cousins, Duane Wyatt, Wayne Rouse and Johnny Dehm.
Candy will be cremated. The family will receive friends at Gowing Funeral Home, Saturday, November 14, 2020, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. There will be no funeral service. The family requests all who attend the visitation follow Covid-19 protocol by wearing masks and limiting their time with the family.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made in Candy’s name to one of the following or a charity of your choice.
Down Syndrome Guild of Greater Kansas City
5960 Dearborn Street, Suite 100
Mission, KS 66202
KCDSG.org
American Cancer Society
Kansas City, MO Office
1100 Pennsylvania Ave.
Kansas City, MO 64105
Cancer.org
Scleroderma Foundation
Missouri Chapter
P.O. Box 1216
Ballwin, MO 63022
636.527.3599
Scleroderma.org/Missouri/