Candyce "Candy" Jane (Overton) Vilott died peacefully in her sleep on April 4, 2024 at the age of 70. Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Saturday, May 18, at Butler-Stumpff & Dyer Memorial Chapel, 2103 E. 3rd Street, Tulsa. Candy saw funerals as celebrations of life, and wanted, when the time came for hers, for attendees to wear the bright colors and patterns that she so loved.

Candy was born on June 19, 1953 and was adopted as the first child of Nita (Freeman) and George Lewis Overton on December 4, 1953. She was a lifelong Oklahoman, talented pianist, and voracious reader. Her study of the piano came to an early crescendo when, at age nine, Candy played beautifully for Oklahoma Governor Henry Bellmon and guests. She went on to graduate from Vinita High School and Oklahoma State University.

In 1984, Candy was working at Tulsa River Parks Authority when a tall man named Bill walked into her office to inquire about offering helicopter rides at the annual Oktoberfest. Candy (5'11") asked Bill (6'4") to their first date on the spot, inviting him to join her at the Tulsa Tip-Toppers, a social club for tall people. They were married within a year, and had one daughter, Valerie Jane, who they both treasured. Candy's physical stature was not the only impressive thing about her. No one was safe from her radiant and effervescent personality. She never met a stranger; within minutes, she'd find a way to pull even the most unwitting out of their shell with a well-timed joke or compliment.

Above all else, Candy valued human connection. She organized events small and large to bring people together and was always volunteering to do something or another for her friends, Valerie's school, or around town. In the workplace, she found her calling later in life as an Activities Coordinator for a nursing home. She had a talent for seeing humanity in infirmed and elderly folks and finding ways to bring them joy and care. As vascular dementia began to erode her faculties, Candy moved into a nursing home herself. There, her "helper" personality stayed true, and she was bustling around checking in on others as if she worked there up until the very end.

Candy was a lover of animals, especially kitties. She was a spelling bee champion (even in adulthood) and crossword wiz. Her handwriting was a perfectly-elegant cursive. Music moved her soul - she would unabashedly belt out the lyrics to her favorite songs and loved to participate in drumming circles. She had a sweet tooth and would never turn down slushies from Sonic, butterscotch candies, or Reese's peanut butter cups.

She is preceded in death by her parents and her loving husband, William "Bill" Vilott. She is survived by her daughter, Valerie Vilott and partner Ashlin Furey of Omaha, NE; beloved brother, George Russell "Russ" Overton and partner James Pappas of San Pedro, CA; and scores of friends and extended family from all walks of life with whom she would likely love to share one more laugh.

In lieu of flowers, Candy's family requests donations be made to the Tulsa SPCA in her memory: https://www.tulsaspca.org/tribute-memorial/.