Candace Rivera-Rutty, 56, St. Joseph, Missouri, passed away Thursday, June 19, 2025.
She was born November 24, 1968 to Garth and Virginia (Ruelan) Rutty on a U.S. Air Force Base in the Philippines. She grew up in many places where her father as stationed, including the Philippines, Jamaica, Spain, and Florida.
She was a medical transcriptionist for many years, and became a lifelong learner.
Candace enjoyed singing, playing music, and dancing. She liked to tell jokes and was stubborn, but in a loving way.
She loved her daughter Mary and was very proud of the woman and mother she’d become. Her biggest regret in life was not getting to know her daughter, Cassandra, but Candace loved her very much as well.
Candace was loved by many and will be dearly missed by all who knew her.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Reggie Rutty; and sister, Linda L. White.
Survivors include her father, Garth Rutty; her mother, Virginia Ruelan; her children, Mary McFadden (Ryan Lawhon), Cassandra Young, and “bonus” children, Barry and Denise White; grandchildren, Christopher Rutty, Christian Howard Rutty, Kellin Sherer, Ameila Rutty Lawhon, I’Yana, Tanaya and Tashawn Young, Allison White and Brody Lopez; great-grandchildren, Addilynn Dawn Lopez and Violet Lynea Lopez.
Natural Farewell under the direction of Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. The family requests contributions to Candace’s Funeral Fund.
