Candy O Whaley

Candy O. Whaley, 66, went peacefully to heaven on February 7, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family. Born in Oceanside, California, she was the youngest in a big family—often teased as being “the favorite.” In 1967, she moved to the Wenatchee Valley, the place that would become her lifelong home. In 1977, she proudly became the first high school graduate in her family (Wenatchee High School) and married Romi Gibson, with whom she raised two daughters over twenty years. Candy worked at the Eastmont School District in roles she took great pride in. She loved her work, her coworkers, and the chance to help others. Her colleagues still smile when they talk about her—especially the way she could solve any technology problem with patience, humor, and a little bit of magic. In the late 90's, Candy met Rick Whaley and eventually they married. Together they shared a full life and a love for time “up lake” in Lucerne, a remote area of Lake Chelan, until his passing. In 2004, Candy faced her first breast cancer diagnosis. She fought bravely and went into remission for many years. When the cancer returned—again and again—she met each recurrence with courage and determination. Eventually, her illness made it impossible for her to continue working at Eastmont, a loss she felt deeply. Candy had a creative spirit from a young age-ceramics was a favorite in childhood. She loved sewing and crafting with her mom, Irene, and the two of them spent many hours preparing for local craft bazaars. Her daughters, Kristi and Tifni, were often right there beside them, learning, laughing, and making memories. In later years, Candy found happiness in her yard. She couldn't resist pulling a weed or dead-heading a flower—whether it was her yard or yours. Even in her most fragile moments, she somehow kept tending to the weeds, a quiet testament to her strength and stubbornness. She also had a knack for finding treasures. Yard sales, thrift stores, and bargain hunts were her happy places. She was delighted by her grandchildren- Easter egg hunts at Grandma Candy’s were legendary, and she loved surprising the kids with little gifts inside the eggs. She loved to watch the excitement on their faces! Trips to the arcade were another favorite with the grandkids—hitting jackpots on the games was almost as thrilling to her as winning at the casino. In her final year, Candy found comfort in simple pleasures: watching her favorite shows, enjoying sugary snacks, and listening to scripture. On rare good days, she even made it to the casino, where she somehow stayed luckier than most. With the support of Hospice and her family, she was able to spend her last days in her own home, just as she wished. Candy was a believer in her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. After two decades of living with cancer and a long, tender goodbye, she is finally at rest in His care. Her family was with her to the end, and she left this world peacefully. Candy is survived by her daughters, Kristi (Garrett) Hills of Wenatchee, WA, and Tifni (Jay) Buchanan of Gig Harbor, WA; her grandchildren, Arabella, Gabi, and Brayden; her siblings Teresa, Marc, Guerry, Roberta, Linda, Rodney and Arlene; and a large extended family. She was preceded in death by her husband, Rick Whaley; her sister, Sherry; her brother, Ted; her biological father, Bob; her stepdad, Butch, who treated her well; her beloved mother, Irene Dykes-Alexander; Irene’s twin, Aunt Lorene Dykes-McCamey; and many other cherished family members. No memorial service will be held. Please share your memories on her online dedication page at www.heritagememorialchapel.com or mail cards to the family at P.O. Box 222, Monitor, WA 98836. Candy loved flowers—so instead of sending them now, please decorate her headstone in the years ahead. Her physical resting place will be with her mom at Evergreen Memorial Park & Mausoleum in East Wenatchee. Donations in Candy’s honor may be made to her grandchildrens' sports teams: • True Aspiration Athletics – Venmo: @TrueAspirationAthletics or mail to P.O. Box 222, Monitor, WA 98836 • Central Washington Red Sox Baseball Club – Venmo: @CWRedSox or mail to P.O. Box 222, Monitor, WA 98836

Candy O Whaley

March 19, 1959 - February 7, 2026