Candace Jane “Blake” Westdale Shelton

Beloved Wife, Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother

Candace Jane Westdale Shelton known to many as Blake, passed away on August 24,2024 at the age of 77. Born on October 13, 1946, in East Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Leonard and June Westdale, Blake lived a life full of adventure, love, and accomplishment.

Blake attended grade school in East Grand Rapids and graduated from East Grand Rapids High School in 1964. In 1969, she welcomed her beloved son, Chadwick Smith, from her first marriage to Phil Smith. Together, they embarked on their first adventure, running a farm for her father, Leonard. They remodeled the old farmhouse and raised horses, cows, and corn. Blake, an accomplished seamstress, made Arabian gowns for Chad to show his Arabian horses, despite his initial reluctance to trade his dirt bike for horseback riding.

In 1978, the family moved to Lowell, Michigan, where Blake pursued higher education at Grand Valley State University, graduating in 1981 with a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology. Shortly after, the family relocated to Colorado Springs, Colorado. Although her marriage to Phil ended, Blake’s journey was far from over.

Blake began her career at Digital Corp, starting in customer service. Facing challenges in a male-dominated field, she legally changed her name to Blake Westdale, a name that would become synonymous with her professional success. She quickly rose through the ranks, earning a promotion to systems management. She retired from Digital, which became Hewlett Packard, in 2010 after achieving the position of team lead for 10 fellow workers.

In 1990, Blake met Bob Shelton on a blind date on March 22. They both fell head over heels in love and were married on August 25, 1990. She became Blake Shelton, though she humorously noted she couldn’t sing worth a hoot! They built a house in Black Forest, Colorado, in 1995, where Blake was instrumental in the design of their home. Bob and Blake were scuba certified on their honeymoon in Mexico and enjoyed many scuba adventures and travels to faraway places, with Hawaii being their favorite destination.

Blake was extremely talented in many aspects of her life, from cooking wonderful meals to installing ceiling fans in their home. She could decorate, hang wallpaper, paint walls, and create quilting masterpieces that adorn many walls in their home. Diagnosed with dementia in 2013, Blake researched extensively, changed her diet, and took many supplements to slow the progression of the disease. She continued to drive her car until 2021.

Her favorite activity from 2014 until she met Jesus was going to New Life Church and King Soopers. She would hug many people at both places, tell them they were good, and express her love for them. Blake was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and Great Grandmother. Blake will be sorely missed by all who knew her. Our only solace is knowing we will see her again in Heaven.

Blake was preceded in death by her parents, Leonard and June Westdale, brothers Mark and Leonard Jr. and is survived by her loving husband Bob, Son Chadwick Smith, Stepdaughters Shannon Smith( Jason Smith) Sunnie Callow (Matt Callow), Stepson Seth Shelton(Deanna Shelton), Grandchildren Conor and Madison Smith, Ashleigh Smith Brun (Blain Brun), Bryleigh Smith Davis(Ashby Davis), Elleigh Smith, Kayleigh Smith, Grayson Smith, Chloe Callow Wilson (Noah Wilson), Chase Callow, Autumn and Annika Shelton, Great Granddaughter Virginia Brun and Great Grandson James Robert Davis.

A celebration of Blake’s life will be held on October 4, 2024, 3pm at The World Prayer center at New Life Church 11025 Voyager Pkwy Colorado Springs Co.80921. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Tunnel To Towers