A Life Well Lived • A Heart Forever Remembered

Marlene Louise Pryson, 91, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, passed away on October 29, 2026. Born on July 17, 1935, in Otsego, Michigan, Marlene was a kind and generous woman who devoted much of her life to caring for others.

Marlene was a beautiful, giving soul who helped everyone who crossed her path. Whether she was caring for family, supporting a friend, working alongside colleagues, or meeting a stranger, she had a special way of making people feel welcome and loved. To Marlene, there was no such thing as a stranger—only a friend she had not yet met.

Her greatest passion was her work as a pediatric clinic coordinator at KCMS, where she dedicated herself to children living with cystic fibrosis (CF) and their families. Her compassion extended far beyond her professional responsibilities. She organized numerous fundraisers and memorable trips to special places, creating opportunities for the children she served to experience joy, adventure, and treasured moments with their families.

Marlene’s dedication to the cystic fibrosis community was deeply personal. After spending years helping children and families affected by the disease, she herself received the diagnosis late in life. She was recognized as the oldest living person with cystic fibrosis, a remarkable distinction that further reflected the extraordinary life she lived and the community she had spent so many years serving.

Marlene’s commitment to others was matched by her devotion to her family and her community. For approximately ten years, she and her husband owned and operated a 7-Eleven neighborhood store, where they served the community around them. In doing so, they gave people in need meaningful employment and a sense of belonging that was special beyond words. The family home she purchased became the heart of her family’s life for nearly 59 years, providing a place filled with memories, love, and togetherness.

Above all, Marlene was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. She shared 58 years of marriage with her devoted husband, Michael Pryson, building a life together grounded in love, commitment, and family.

Marlene leaves behind her loving husband of 58 years, Michael Pryson; her children, Joel Pryson, his twin sister Buffy Pryson and her husband Will Simpson, Mikelle Martin, and her grandson Patrick Martin; her daughter from a previous marriage, Cissie "Pamela" Cobb; her stepson Michael Pryson Jr., his wife, Lori, and their children, Paige, Haylie, and Chloe; and her stepdaughter-in-law, Rosemarie Pryson, and her grandchildren, Victoria Pryson and Scott Pryson.

She was preceded in death by her son, Brian Cobb, who passed away from cystic fibrosis at the age of 18, and her stepson, Timothy Pryson.

Marlene will be remembered for her generous heart, her unwavering compassion, and the countless lives she touched throughout her life and career. She gave freely of herself, finding purpose in helping others and happiness in making a difference. Her kindness reached children and families in need, neighbors in her community, coworkers, friends, and even people she had only just met.

Her passing leaves a profound emptiness in the hearts of those who knew and loved her. Yet the love she gave, the memories she created, and the lives she changed will continue to live on through the many people fortunate enough to have known her.