Candace 'Candy' Ashley

An adventurer at heart, Candy began her final earthly adventure on March 6, 2024 in the loving care of the staff at Boardman Lake Glens in Traverse City, with family at her bedside. She was born in Toledo, OH on September 14, 1943, to Betty and Azor Sheffield, Jr.

Candy's Michigan adventures began after she graduated from Bowling Green State University in 1965, when she and then husband William "Kit" Ashley moved to Traverse City, MI. Here she dedicated her life to raising her two children, teaching hundreds of other children, volunteering, and helping to make the Traverse City region a better place to live.

Upon moving to Traverse City, Candy met her life-long friend Penny Frederick Lautner at a Traverse City Newcomer's Club meeting, a group Candy appreciated and supported with her time for many years. Candy and Penny spent more than 57 years sharing family adventures that her children talk about to this day!
Candy was an avid reader – her family has lost count of the number of books she read. For more than 50 years she was an active member of the AAUW and their book club. A group she was passionate about being part of even as dementia took her ability to read.

Committed to her community, Candy was an instrumental founder of the Boardman Neighborhood Association, focusing on preserving the history of this Traverse City neighborhood and cleaning up F & M Park.

In 1969 Candy began her career working for the Traverse City Area Public Schools. There wasn't an elementary school she didn't substitute teach in but she found her "home" at Cherry Knoll, making numerous friends and impacting hundreds of lives. In 1993 she received the Outstanding Educator Award from TCAPS. Candy participated in a teacher exchange program, taking her passion for learning to Scotland where she made lasting friendships. She and her family hosted exchange students as well. She retired in 2003 from a career she dearly loved. In addition to TCAPS, Candy spent summers inspiring students through many gifted/talented programs through Northwestern Michigan College and encouraged students to maintain their education through the GRASP program (including her grandchildren!). She did not stop teaching when she retired but combined her passion for adventure and for teaching by becoming an Inland Seas Education Association volunteer instructor.

Candy gave of her time and talents to many organizations in the Traverse City area including the Dennos Museum, State Theater, and the National Cherry Festival where she expertly led the Sandcastle Sculpture event for over 15 years.

She loved to travel and visited Scotland (many times), England, Mexico, Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands, Cuba, and almost all the United States including Alaska! Her travels were for fun and learning and she always came back with wisdom to impart to her children and grandchildren and inspired them to explore, learn, and grow through travel as well.

Aside from travel, teaching, and reading, Candy could be found enjoying a good garage sale (or 10) each weekend of the "season". The hobby was started out of necessity to save money as a single parent and became one of her local adventures. When resale stores became a popular shopping option, she hit
those up too, finding treasures for her classroom, her home, and the homes of her children. Fun fact: she even bought her house at a garage sale!

Candace/Candy/Grandy was a kind, generous, self-deprecating, and clumsy soul. She adventured widely and usually came home with some sort of injury to show for it. That never stopped her from planning and taking the next adventure! Her family is so happy that she can now adventure on with the hope of fewer injuries.

Candy was a friend to many, and her family are so grateful to her "village" for the support over the last several years. Special thanks to neighbors Sally & Bobbi and caregiver Chris. Your friendship and care have been a great comfort to her family.

While impacting hundreds of TCAPS students over the years, her biggest pride and joy were her children and grandchildren. She told anyone who would listen of their accomplishments, their hopes and dreams, and their adventures. Candy is survived by her son Mark (Lisa) from Petoskey and daughter Elizabeth Ashley Thompson of Oscoda along with grandchildren Katherine Thompson, Willow Ashley, Abigail Thompson, Azor Ashley, and Owen Ashley all of whom carry on her immense love of family. In addition, Candy is survived by her sister Pam (Jim) Null of Perrysburg, OH and nephews Patrick (Julie) and Christopher Null-all of Ohio.

The family wishes to recognize and thank the incredible, caring staff at Boardman Lake Glens and Hospice of Michigan who, together, provided Candy with a peaceful, dignified, comfortable transition to her next adventure. We are forever grateful for these amazing caregivers who showed Candy such love and compassion.

To honor Candy's wishes, a celebration of her life will be held on Saturday May 11 from 4-6pm at the Top of the Park in Traverse City. Those wishing to celebrate Candy's life with a donation are encouraged to consider the programs she cared most about and support the Inland Seas Education Association, the Traverse City Public Library - Mystery Books, or Hospice of Michigan.