Candace (Candy) Liljegren, 79, of Oak Grove, Missouri passed away peacefully and surrounded by love in her home on January 14, 2026, following her long and bravely fought battle with cancer.

Candy was born in Red Bud, Illinois on April 16, 1946, to Charles O. (Corky) and Margaret Marie (Jeremiah) Tilton. They lived in several states before finally settling in Jefferson, Iowa when she was in the fourth grade. There she met Bill Liljegren, and they dated off and on through school. She was the first girl he ever dated and the first girl he ever kissed.

After graduating from high school, she attended Finley Hospital School for Nursing in Dubuque, IA. About the same time, Bill left for army basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri. Upon her nursing school graduation, she passed her boards on the very first try. This was something Candy was very proud of as being a nurse became a dream of hers as a young girl just as soon as she found out what a nurse was. Once Bill completed basic training, they reunited, started dating again and eventually were engaged. They were married on August 26, 1967, and began their life together in South Sioux City, Nebraska, later moving to Blue Springs, Missouri, and finally settling on an acreage in Oak Grove, Missouri in 1972.

Candy possessed all the qualities that every nurse should aspire to, and her career spanned 50 years across multiple settings. She started as a floor nurse, then intensive care and emergency; she taught LPN classes at Sanford Brown College, was a substitute school nurse for the Oak Grove School District and prior to retiring was a Certified Hospice Nurse.

She loved a good romance novel and no doubt read thousands over her lifetime, sometimes the same books repeatedly. She also curated that love by spending several years reviewing romance novel manuscripts, creating a newsletter for reviews, and solicited the family’s help stuffing the envelopes to send them out. She also had the opportunity to meet many authors of the books she enjoyed so much.

She was very active in the United Methodist Church in Oak Grove, serving on numerous committees, was an officer for United Methodist Women, and a member of the Busy Bee and Sunshine Circles. She taught Sunday school, worked for Mother’s Day Out, and taught and directed Bible School. Her love for music was profound, and she played piano for the youth choir (later becoming the director), sang in the church choir and played piano for the Oak Leaves when they first organized.

Candy became a member of Beta Sigma Phi sorority in 1976 and most currently was a member of the Beta Upsilon Masters chapter. She also enjoyed being a member of a bridge club in Oak Grove.

She fiercely loved her family and there was no bigger cheerleader for any of us than her. She treasured the time she was able to spend with her husband and children, and loved nothing more than being Sweet Tootie, T, and Mo to her grandchildren and great grandchildren by making special memories with each one of them and creating traditions with them that they will no doubt cherish forever.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Corky and Margaret Tilton; and survived by her loving husband, Bill (of 58 years);  a brother Don Tilton (Rosa) of Colorado Springs, Colorado, her daughter Kharlene of Oak Grove, her son Dixon (Rachel) of Blue Springs, Missouri, Her granddaughter Ashley (Kelly) with great grandchildren Keagan and Fynlie, grandsons Justin (Sarah) and Brady with great granddaughter Aurora.

Candy was so very loved by her family and a multitude of friends, and we will all miss her deeply.

Her service will be held Sunday, January 25, 2026, at 1pm at the United Methodist Church in Oak Grove, Missouri. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to the American Cancer Society or to the Grace Campus of the United Methodist Church in Oak Grove, Missouri.

Obituary submitted by the family.

Arrangements by Royer Funeral Home in Oak Grove, Missouri