Candace 'Candy' Emilie Tilzey, 86
Daily Inter-Lake | UPDATED 1 day, 3 hours AGO
Candace "Candy" Emilie Tilzey, 86, went to sleep peacefully and joyfully woke up in the arms of Jesus on Nov. 26, 2025.
She was born to Ralph and Veronica Schnell on March 30, 1939, in St Maries, Idaho and joined her beautiful sister Joicelyn. They welcomed their little brother Bill in 1945.
Candy cherished her childhood ranch life in Phillipsburg with many special memories. She fondly remembers the fascinating lightning in the summers and digging through the incredibly deep wall of snow that covered the quonset hut during the winters.
The Schnell family moved to Whitehall in 1946 for more wonderful ranching experiences. She celebrated her graduation with the Whitehall Class of 1957 and then moved to Seattle where she studied medical assistant courses, and met her soon to be husband, Jim Tilzey, on a blind date. They spent many years together with their two boys. Kenneth was born in 1958, and Ragen in 1961.
The Tilzey family moved to Alabama, and then to California, where Candy enjoyed being a stay-at-home mom until her boys graduated from high school and left home. In 1977 she decided it was time to go back to school! She studied quality control and spent the bulk of her career as a quality engineer of missiles at the Air Force Base in Santa Maria, California.
She retired in 2005 and moved with her son Kenneth to Bigfork. Kenneth was disabled from an accident in 1998, and she became his constant companion and caregiver. They were forever side-by-side and cherished every beautiful day together. God had orchestrated the perfect plan for both of them. They were inseparable and had the most precious love and admiration for each other.
Candy had a heart of gold and an incredibly funny sense of humor. She had many circles of family and friends, including Pat and Phyllis; Debbie and her Ferndale garden; Jim and Jeanie in her neighborhood; Ron and Carol Pierce’s bible study group; her Crossroads Church family; and many more forever by her side and in her heart. She will be missed by all, but she was special enough to leave a very dear part of herself with each and every one who has ever known her.
Candy is survived by her sons Kenneth in Bigfork and Ragen in California, and her precious little Schipperke pup Cody. She is also survived by her sister Joicelyn (CB) in Redding, California; her brother Bill (Jan) in Kalispell; and her dearly loved nieces and nephews who all held a very special place in her heart.
A celebration of Candy’s Life will take place next summer when her loved ones are able to make the trip to beautiful Montana. Candy and her family appreciate, beyond words, the Ferndale Volunteer Fire Department and their Emergency Medical Team, for the special care they have provided for her over the years. If you wish to thank them in Candy’s memory, donations can be mailed to 100 N Ferndale Drive, Bigfork, MT 59911.