Candice Frye Gordon passed away holding her daughter’s hand on August 3, 2021 after a courageous two year battle with a disease that does not deserve to be named.

Candy made many friends in her 71 years of life mainly spent on Vinalhaven, Maine. She was a kind soul that always found the positive in people and the humor in every situation. Candy loved her family, her island community, and her independence. A self-described loner, she thoroughly enjoyed her quiet time at home reading, watching her favorite shows, drawing, crafting, and gardening.

Candy was born on December 21, 1949 to two loving parents Ruth and Harold “Ducky” Haskell. She had a happy childhood on Pleasant Street with her three siblings Johnny, Walter, and Beth. Their house was never short on laughter or mischief. There’s a story that as kids Candy and Walter would catch snakes and put them in neighbor’s keyholes but that may or may not be true (depending on who you ask). 

Candy loved to draw and was the go to artist in school for posters and signs. She played the saxophone both in school and later for the town band. She was crowned Vinalhaven’s Miss Fourth of July in 1968. 

Candy was a care giver for nature, her kids, and later for her own parents and siblings. She loved animals and took in abandoned or injured wildlife throughout her life. She once raised an orphaned raccoon that she would walk into town on a leash and mended a fish hawk with a broken wing back to flight.

Candy was a single mom and raised her two daughters Suzanne and Anna on her own. She supported her family by working as a secretary at Vinalhaven High School for many years. Her daughters share her love of animals, art, crafts, music, and Christmas.

A member of the Union Church, Candy’s faith was strong and unwavering even in the hardest of times. Despite her own illness, she reached out to others to provide comfort and strength. She chose faith over fear and was not afraid to die. She wouldn’t want any of us to be either. She was greeted with open arms in heaven by her parents, numerous aunts, cousins, friends and her beloved Billy Wadleigh. She leaves behind and watches over her daughters and their spouses Suzanne & Eric Jackomino and Anna & Chris Cote, her four grandchildren Lael & Jadon Jackomino and Eli & Ethan Cote (who knew her lovingly as Gigi), her three siblings Johnny Haskell, Walter Haskell, and Beth Haskell, and her husband John Gordon.

A public memorial service will be held at Robert’s Cemetery in Vinalhaven, ME on Saturday, September 25^th at 10:30 AM. Bright attire is welcome and encouraged. Please join us in celebrating Candy’s life by sharing your stories about her at the service. She would want to see us laughing. In addition, please  share pictures and memories with her family and friends on this page. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to the Vinalhaven Community Outreach at PO Box 15, Vinalhaven, ME 04863.