Candace Marie Harris

Candace Marie Harris, of Silver Springs, Florida went Home to be with her Lord and Savior, August 11th, 2025. Candace was a faithful member of Forest Assembly of God Church and loved the Lord with all her heart. She was an active member in a ladies Bible study there with her special friends, Irene Simpson, Bonnie Yager, Nancy Stonestreet, Loretta Hunt, and Lynn Kelley.

Candace grew up in the Foster household in Minneapolis, MN, whose legacy, led by her parents, created a safe and fun environment for the drag racing community. Her parents, John and Margie Foster were the General Managers of Minnesota Dragways. Candace, along with her older sister Cheryl and younger brother John, played a crucial role helping the family create, print and mail weekly newsletters in the their basement, running the timing clocks in the control tower and handing out elapsed time slips to every racer, as well as selling tickets to the fans and for the hundreds of cars that would line up to race every Sunday thru-out the race season.

In her younger years, Candace was an avid runner and snow skier. Later though, her greatest joy and passion shared with the love of her life, Mel, became her and Mel’s love of corvettes and motorcycles. They traveled to numerous car and bike shows throughout the years and built unforgettable memories on the road traveling and spending time with their friends and each other. Their love for motorcycles led them to move to Florida, where they could ride twelve months out of the year.

Candace worked in the printing industry for several decades, both in Minneapolis and in central Florida. After her retirement from printing, Candace and Mel moved to Suches, GA where she opened her own Kettle Korn business. This led to the eventual purchase of “The Country Store” in Blairsville, GA. that Candace owned and operated, selling crafts, candies, jellies and jams, quilts and everything country. After many successful years, Candace sold the store, and they moved to Silver Springs Florida, where they enjoyed their retirement and spent their final years.

Candace loved and adopted many fur babies over the years. She never met a stray cat or dog, because as soon as she discovered one, they would be brought into her home and cared for as one of her own.

Candace was preceded in death by her beloved husband Mel, parents, John and Margie Foster, and sister, Cheryl Foster Kaplan.

Candace is survived by her beloved brother John Foster, Jr. and wife Debbie of Knoxville, TN, whom she has been so very close to her entire life, and will be most missed by. She is also survived by her stepson Troy Harris of Minneapolis MN, her nephews, Jeff Foster (Safeena), John Foster (Kelly), and Phil Foster, her niece, Ashley Foster Hall (Justin), and many great nieces and nephews, as well as numerous friends from all over the country she loved and kept in touch with her entire life.

Candace’s Celebration of Life will be held on Friday August 22 nd at 1:00 EST, at Countryside Funeral Home, 9185 NE Jacksonville Road, Anthony, Florida, 32617

There will be a reception immediately following the funeral service. Please be sure to plan and stay, so we can personally meet you and thank you for being such a precious part of Candace’s life. It’s only a 3-minute drive from the funeral home. Anthony Women’s Club – 2120 NE 95 th Street Anthony, FL 32617

In lieu of flowers, donations can be mailed to either of the following, in Candace’s name. Forest Assembly of God Church - 17530 E. Highway 40 Silver Springs, FL 34488 Humane Society of Marion County Animal Clinic – 1705 NW 8 th Ave. Ocala, FL 34475

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the outpouring of messages that you have shared with our family. We are forever touched and grateful for your kindness.