Candace Faye “Candy” Roberts, 66, Orrick, passed away Nov. 9, 2020, at her daughter’s home in Orrick, shortly after midnight, following a brief illness.

Candy was born Feb. 8, 1954, in Kirksville to Dale Leon and Billie Francis (Thomas) Roberts.

Candy spent her early life in Green City; Braymer; Coon Rapids, Iowa; Hayden, Colorado; and Monroe City. The Roberts family moved to Orrick in 1969, when her dad became superintendent of schools there. Candy graduated in 1972 from Orrick High School.

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 her life.

She is survived by her two children, Kimberly Dorton and Willie Duncan, both of Orrick; her former husband, Tim Duncan, Fleming; granddaughter, Ashlin (Brandon) McKinney, Excelsior Springs; great-granddaughter, Scarlett McKinney, Excelsior Springs; Jaxon Dorton of Orrick; her mother, Billie Roberts, Orrick; and two brothers, Ronald Dale (Mary) Roberts, Phoenix, Arizona, and Sandy Talmadge Roberts, Lexington.

Other survivors include her nieces, Suzanne Roberts, Normal, Illinois, Julie (Geoff) Shepherd, Novato, California; great-nieces, Ashley Reeves, LaMesa, California, California, and Zoe Shepherd, Novato, California; great-nephew, Brandon Reeves, Grand Prairie, Texas; aunts, Virginia Dehm and Mary Jean Thomas, Milan, and Betty Gerst, Independence; and 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; a brother, Thomas Lynn (Tommy) Roberts, both of Orrick; her aunts, Lucille Rouse and Irene Wyatt; her 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, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020.

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 St., Suite 100; Mission, KS 66202. Website: KCDSG.org;

• American Cancer Society, Kansas City Office; 1100 Pennsylvania Ave.; Kansas City, MO 64105. Website: Cancer.org. Phone: 816-842-711; and

• Scleroderma Foundation, Missouri Chapter; P.O. Box 1216; Ballwin, MO 63022. Phone: 636-527-3599. Website: Scleroderma.org/Missouri/.