Candace Ann “Candy” Crane Gootee left us Friday and was, as she desired, surrounded by her beloved family and friends.
Candy was born in Daviess County on Dec. 23, 1949, to Leland and Beth (Weaver) Crane. She was a graduate of Odon High School, class of 1967. Candy retired from NSWC Crane in 2005 after a long and successful career and was honored with the governor’s Sagamore of the Wabash Award. Her family and friends were her life and she loved spending time at home with her husband, her children, her grandchildren and her friends.
Survivors include her husband, Steve Gootee; her daughters, Tory (Adam) Schulte of Odon, and Tracy Graber and fiance Alan Devine of Washington; her stepchildren, Stephen Gootee and Kelly Gootee of Phoenix, Arizona; her sister, Paula Kelsey of Washington; brothers-in-law John (Mary) Gootee, Rich (Marsha) Gootee and Ron Stevens; grandchildren Mattie and Kaylee Wagler, Charlie Schulte, Annie and Drew Graber, Gabriel and Owen Tremaine and Sophia Prigge.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her brother- in-law, Clarence “Butch” Kelsey; nephew Mark Kelsey; mother- and father-in-law Ardella and Glenn Gootee; and sister-in-law Beth Stevens.
Her family is thankful beyond words for the outpouring of love and support she received during her long struggle. Our lives are diminished without her, but greater for having known her love.
There will be no public visitation.
Donations may be made to the Indiana University School of Medicine to support polycystic liver disease research. Please make memorial gifts payable to IU Foundation Liver Research and mail to Indiana University School of Medicine, c/o IU Foundation, P.O. Box 7072, Indianapolis, IN 46207. Please indicate “in memory of Candy Gootee” on your gift.
