- Date Of Birth: January 22, 1920
- Date Of Death: January 22, 2018
- State: Michigan
Marian Louise Kingsley joined her loved ones in heaven on her 98th birthday (January 22, 1920 – January 22, 2018). Her children and grandchildren were her greatest joy. She was a faithful Christian and a member of the First United Methodist Church since arriving in Midland in 1941.
The daughter of Clyde C. and Rose E. White Scherer, Marian was born and raised on her parents’ farm in Watervliet, MI. At fourteen she attended the 1934 Chicago World’s Fair and drove her family home. As a young teenager she contributed to her father’s fruit farm operation by driving his Ford “Model A” truck to the Benton Harbor Fruit Exchange and bargained with the buyers. When she graduated from Watervliet High School in 1937 as valedictorian, she was known by her peers to be a good friend, and an accomplished pianist. Although attending just two years, she considered herself a lifelong member of her Kalamazoo College class of 1941 and stayed in touch with her classmates.
On August 11, 1940, Marian married Robert Goshorn Kingsley, who was teaching in her hometown of Watervliet. Bob and Marian moved to Midland in 1941 where they raised their three children. As newcomers they joined a young couples Bible Study group at church, with whom they continued to share joys and sorrows for over sixty years. In 1955 they built a home on Leonard Lane and enjoyed entertaining friends and family there. Marian completed her BA with honors at Central Michigan University in 1963. She taught kindergarten and first grade at Auburn, Coleman and the Midland Public Schools. She was a charter member of her sewing club, a member of King’s Daughters and Sons, AAUW, and enjoyed Midland Community Center dances, concerts at the Midland Center for the Arts, and traveling. Marian loved spending time at their rustic cottage on School Lake where she enjoyed hiking, canoeing, picnics, campfires and s’mores with her grandchildren. In her later years she offered a beautiful example of love while caring for her husband through many years of Alzheimer’s disease.
Marian was preceded in death by the love of her life, Robert; her parents and a sister, Elaine Rose Scherer; a daughter in law, Marcie S. Kingsley and a great grandson, Jason Loyd. Many will dearly miss her including her family – children: David C. (Judy) Kingsley, Linda L. (Dan) Loyd, and Susan M. Kingsley – grandchildren: Peggy L. (Steve Glista) Kingsley, Kathleen E. Kingsley, Jeffery D. (Kimberly) Loyd, Sarah L. Loyd (Tyler) Jacobson, Karen D. Loyd, Christopher D. Loyd (Susan Rhoades), Adrienne L. Worrell (James) Vogl, and Erin L. Worrell (Matt) McGarry. She is also survived by fourteen great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.
A celebration of Marian’s Life will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Saturday February 3, 2018 at First United Methodist Church with Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Maxwell officiating. Interment of her ashes will take place in Midland City Cemetery at a later date.
