Kandy Ann Whitehead

1961 - 2023

Kandy Ann Whitehead
June 22, 1961 - April 10, 2023
Ajijic, Mexico, Washington - Kandy Ann Whitehead
Kandy Ann (King) Whitehead, 61 a retired resident of Ajijic Mexico, and a former 18-year resident of Kennewick, passed away Monday, April 10, 2023 peacefully at home.
Kandy was the second child of Jim and Barbara King. Born in Tacoma, Washington on a military base, most of Kandy's childhood was spent on military bases due to her father being career active-duty Army.
Kandy grew up fast having her only child, (Brian) at an early age. She worked as a car hop and waitress at Mearl's Drive In, a local hot spot for the college crowd in Visalia, California.
It was at Mearl's she met her first husband Ron Banes and his son Scott. Kandy and Ron married in 1986 and were married 22 years at the time of Ron's passing. Looking for a better place to raise the boys, they settled in Baker City, Oregon. This is where they spent 14 years raising their sons Brian, Scott, and Kandy's brother Bill.
Kandy was the family bread winner for many years due to an accident that left Ron with a debilitated back. In Baker City Kandy worked at the Safeway grocery store in the Bakery Department. It was not long before she became the Bakery Manager, earning the recognition as a Journeyman Cake Decorator. For years people flocked to Safeway to have Kandy decorate their wedding and birthday cakes.
After the boys graduated high school, it was time to move on. Walmart was moving into Kennewick and she was quickly hired as an Assistant Manager in the "store opening" crew. Over the following 14 years she climbed the ladder to the position of Co-Manager and worked at this capacity in the Kennewick, Richland, and Pasco Walmart locations.
In 2015 Kandy moved her career to Hobby Lobby and worked as the Co-Manager for four years before retiring.
Throughout her career the relationships she had with her employees were most important to her. Mentoring, then watching employees blossom is what made Kandy happiest.
In 2009 Kandy met her current husband, Steve Whitehead. They married in 2011. For many years both enjoyed each other's company maintaining their home, garden, swimming pool and fish pond. On weekends they enjoyed camping, motorcycle riding and entertaining guests. Steve and Kandy retired to Ajijic Mexico in November 2019.
Kandy is survived by her husband, Steve Whitehead of Ajijic Mexico, her father Jim King of Leavenworth, Kansas; two sons Brian King of Bedford, TX and Scott Banes of Hermiston, OR; three brothers, Robert and Michael King of Visalia, CA, and Bill King of New Plymouth, ID.
She was preceded in death by her mother Barbara King.
A celebration of life is scheduled on June 24th in Ajijic Mexico at the El Dorado Club House. The closest airport is Guadalajara, (35 minutes away). Please contact Steve on social media for more information.
The family would like to thank the nurses at Chapala Home Healthcare, Mari Gonzalez, Pati Sanchez, and Alfredo Alvarez for the loving care of Kandy during her last days.