Celebration of life Candace M. Smiley
Candace Marie Smiley August 30, 1973 -
September 8, 2022.
The Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, September 23, 2022, at 11:00 am. Mt. Calvary Christian Center, 1412 23rd Avenue, Seattle, WA 98122 Live streaming info: FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/MountCalvaryCC-111592101404764/YOUTUBE - https://youtube.com/c/MountCalvaryCC The repass will be held immediately following the service at Washington Hall, 153 14th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98122
Candace Marie (Walker) Smiley, age 49, passed away with her loving family by her side in Seattle, Washington, Thursday, September 8, 2022. Candace was born on August 30, 1973, to Jimmie Lee Walker and Betty Stovall in Seattle. She was married for 12 years to Eric Smiley. Even after their divorce, they remain the greatest of friends, and Eric continues to be a father figure to Shai'Ree. Candace attended and graduated from Garfield High School and was a proud member of the Class of 1992. Candace was a creative and gifted child and inherited her artistic gifts from her father, Jimmie, a talented artist and dancer, and her mother, Betty, a talented clothing designer and seamstress. Candace loved her family and shared a special bond with her siblings Curtis and Nakia, who were all close in age, and later with their youngest sister, Jymie. The joy of Candace's life was being a mother to her only child, her beautiful daughter, and "mini-me" Shai'Ree. She was present in every way for Shai, raising and supporting her throughout her childhood into a beautiful young woman. They share the same entrepreneurial spirit and enthusiasm about life. Shai'Ree was her number one priority, and Candace worked hard to provide her daughter with the best education and life opportunities. Candace instilled in Shai the importance of faith, prayer, and believing in her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Their favorite scripture the past two months was James 1:3, "Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience." As a late teen and adult, Candace poured her boundless creativity into hairstyling. Candace enrolled in Seattle Central Community College immediately after graduation to pursue cosmetology. Upon graduating, she began working at various salons throughout the Seattle area, I
n 2014, Candace opened her salon, MzTwist Artistry Studio. She was a natural hair educator-extraordinaire and branded the "fastest hands in Washington."
Candace has been an award-winning stylist and natural hair specialist for over 20+ years. In October 2017, King 5's Evening Magazine did a feature story, "Meet MzTwist, the woman behind the Seahawk's hair." The show shared about her work styling the hair of Seahawks players for two decades.
Candace's creativity and innovation contributed to the local, national, and global movement amongst Black people to opt out of chemical straightening and to embrace the beauty of our natural hair textures.
Candace was known for her impeccable sense of style and love for fashion. Over the last few years, she amazed us with yet another facet of her brilliant creativity in the limited and exclusive mixed-media artwork she painted. Candace was a vivid, bright light that lit up any space she entered, and her smile? Well, we don't need to say anymore.
Candace Marie Smiley is survived by her daughter Shai'Ree Jarren McKinsey Walker of Seattle, WA; father Jimmie L. Walker of Federal Way, WA; mother Betty Stovall of Federal Way, WA; brother Curtis J. Walker of Seattle, WA; sister Nakia L. Ray (Kevin) of Kent, WA; sister Jymie Walker of Federal Way, WA; former husband, Eric Smiley, nieces MahKayla Steele, Cianna Williams, Aniya Ray, Nadia Ray and her nephew Derek Ray; aunts Erma Douglas, Dover, DE, Esther Jones, Seattle, WA; uncles Willie Stovall, Dallas, TX and Michael Jones, Seattle, WA and a host of cousins, great nieces and adopted nieces and nephews.
