Support for Josh After Candy's Passing

Candy Lovely Woods Goodling Coates left us to be with Jesus on Monday, August 12, 2024.

Candy was born April 12, 1942, and grew up in Chicago, Illinois. She and Boyd met while they both attended Bob Jones University. They immediately clicked and were married June 8, 1963.

After having their seventh child, she pursued her degree in accounting from Pensacola Christian School. She went on to teach at Christian schools with Boyd in quite a few cities and states over their 50+ years of marriage together before Boyd passed away in January 2016.

Candy loved to learn. If she didn’t know something, she would take it as a challenge and research it until she was able to master whatever project needed to be completed.

Candy loved math, sewing, drawing out house plans, accounting, collecting elephants, just to name a few of her favorites. She had hundreds of elephants in her collection. Her grandchildren used to make a game of trying to find the most elephants on their visits.

Candy loved her church and being in the ministry with Boyd, and also with her late husband Tom Coates, who she married in Spring of 2019. She taught Sunday School, at Ladies retreats, held many Bible studies, and was faithful to her the Church her entire life. She loved the Lord greatly.

She left behind 5 of her 7 children Joel, Joshua, Matthew (Carolyn), Marci (Tim), and Petra (Andrew). She went to meet 2 of her children in heaven, Titus (Jackie) and Timberly (LeRoy) along with her 1st husband Boyd Goodling and her 2nd husband Tom Coates. She was also reunited with her Mother and Father Lovely Brownie Woods and Harley Woods, her sister Cherry (Neil) Holser, and her brother-in-law Skip McMurry.

She is also survived by her sister Gail McMurry and her brother Duane (Glenda) Woods.

She left behind her 22 grandchildren Cory (Jessica), Tori, Andrea (Adam), Timothy (Jillian), Britta (Ruben), Chance, Lauren (Mike), Matthew (Hala), Olivia (Zeb), Justice (Sarah), Canyon, Tanner, Jarvis (Sonya), Nick, Taylor (Justus), Darby, Nathaniel, Jacob, Alia, Paige, Vega, Justin and 14 great grandchildren Gideon, Zoey, Silas, Jack, Ava Leah, Noah, Rachel, Gabriel, James, Elena, Emmy, Hector, Amelia, Jude and Julianna. Along with all of her nieces, nephews, cousins, church family and friends.

Her presence will be missed, she left a large hole in many hearts that will take time to heal.

The service will be held at Candy’s church: Oak Ridge Baptist; 1451 Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, TN 37830 at 5:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers we are asking for donations for Candy’s son Josh. He has been living in her house and taking care of her/being her companion for the last 6 years since Boyd died and more so since Tom died last year. All of his siblings are grateful to him.

Candy passed suddenly and her children are working to settle her estate. This process will take 6 months or longer and any support you can provide to help Josh keep moving forward until he is set up on disability will be greatly appreciated.