Kandyce Stander

Kandyce Louise Stander, 42, of Ogden, passed on to her Heavenly family on August 10, 2023. Kandyce graduated in 2000 from Sky View High School where she was a member of the drill team. After graduation, she met and married Curtis Stander. Although they later divorced, their union created two amazing boys, Jarett and Ray. For Kandyce, the world revolved around them. She did anything she could to try to make them happy, including coaching their soccer team. When she wasn’t focused on her boys, Kandyce loved to be creative. She was happiest when she was making art or writing poems, and even happier when she could share that with others. While living in Bear River City she had that opportunity, working as a teacher’s aide at Century Elementary. There, she could use her creativity to benefit the teachers and students who she loved so much. Kandyce was born to Sharon Jones and Bart West in Ogden, Utah. She spent her early years with her siblings, Linda and Michael. After her mother passed away in 1989, Kandyce was adopted by Tauna and Bruce Gates of Newton, Utah. Shortly thereafter, the Gates family added another child to their home, a special needs child named Seth. Kandyce immediately bonded with him, taking great pleasure in caring for and playing with him. Kandyce bonded with her other siblings as they tended to and groomed the family’s goats and other animals. She was always so proud of the awards she received for her efforts at the county and state fairs. Kandyce was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Kandyce is survived by her children, Jarett and Ray Stander; father Bart West; two sets of parents Tauna and George Ray and Bruce and Vicky Gates; brothers Michael Baldwin, Collin Gates, Kyler Gates, and Mason Gates; sisters Timery Reis and Linda; and grandparents Jim and Carol Jean Beesley. She will be missed by many more family and friends who loved her and her warm smile, dearly. She was preceded in death by her birth mother, Sharon Jones; brother, Seth Gates; and grandparents Raymond and Doreen Bailey and Leon Gates. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, August 17, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at the Gillies Funeral Chapel, 634 E. 200 S., Brigham City. To see her services online please go to this address:https://gfc-utah.com/remember/kandyce-stander Private interment for family in the Brigham City Cemetery Meditation Garden. In lieu of flowers, a Kandyce Stander Memorial account has been set up at America First Credit Union to help with funeral expenses and to support her children.