This is a difficult obituary to write. Not because Suzanne Gannon Pryde's passing on
12/20/2023 was a tragedy. One could hardly call living a full life nearly to the age of 91 tragic.
No, difficult because when one loses in this life someone as beautiful, kind, irreverent, hilarious,
stubborn, empathetic, and wholly alive as Sue was, how to convey the profound absence, the
seismic loss we feel without her? How to hammer simple words into sentences and paragraphs
that even partially sum up the deep listener, the quick laugh and smiling eyes, the emphatic
reader, the loving spirit, the unending curiosity about life and the world about that she so
inhabited? How to illustrate the profound love for friends and family that she embroidered into
every single day of life she lived? Goofy, and deep, and unendingly warm, Sue was as unique
as the waters of East Bay she lived above right up until she left us.

Born on January 7, 1933 near Detroit, a lone daughter in the midst of four brothers she loved
dearly, she was as exuberant and quirky as a child and teenager as she'd be in adulthood. At
Shrine High School she met dear friends that she would have her entire life, and at age 18 met
Charles Harvey Pryde, the true love of her life. Sue's mother became very ill and Sue left
classes at Wayne State to care for her until she died when Sue was only 19. She and Chuck
married on October 27, 1954, and soon started a family. They bundled children and babies out
the door for camping, skiing, biking, community, always involved in busy, engaged, social lives.
Sue returned to classes at Wayne and earned her teaching degree, returning once more, with
sixth and final baby in tow to achieve her Masters in Library Science. She became the librarian
at Kensington Academy and then moved to Pierce Elementary School in Birmingham,
becoming a much beloved media specialist until her retirement at age 65.

Sue and Chuck moved to Elk Rapids and embraced a new stage of life. Sue took on a job at
The Elk Rapids Public Library, where she and Chuck established a children's story time, he
playing guitar and singing songs, her reading stories in her multitudes of voices, both helping
to spread the love of reading they both felt. And still they were active, still skiing, still biking, still
roving out in the world, celebrating each and every sunset with a gin martini. And always,
always friends and family.

Chuck passed away in 2016, and Sue never for a moment stopped missing him. But still she
was with us, always asking after everyone, always greeting everyone warmly, always filled with
enough love to share. Always a presence in so very many lives. Always wanting the very best
for virtually everyone.

But her lungs grew weary.

With her children gathered around her as the last labored breaths left her body, Sue was
released from the increasing respiratory difficulties that had marked her final months. Released
and loved, she left this world and rejoined her beloved Chuck, and for that we can be thankful
though we will always and forever miss the indefinable depth of her spirit, and the endearing
love she truly embodied. This is only a minor reflection of all that she was, but all that knew her
will carry the luminous mosaic of her life with us going forward, and try to embody some of
what made her so special to us.

Sue is survived by her brother Terry, her children, Charlie (Clare Kurz) Pryde, Peter (Suzanne
Lee) Pryde, Micheal (Dena Vatalaro-Pryde) Pryde, Marcy (Kerry) Tucker, Scott (Beth) Pryde, Ted
(Christy) Pryde, a slew of grandchildren, Jack, Ben Nick, June, Emma, Cal, Justin, Shaun, Nico,
Janna (Mark) Goethel, Molly (Dan) Joyce, Sara Tucker, Jonas, Kyla, Devin, Maggie, and great
grandchildren, Rowan Goethel, and Wesley Joyce.

She was lovely and poetic,
She was goofy and hilarious,
We adored her and hate to let her go,
Unique and rare.
Sue and Chuck are together again.
Thank you, Sue,
We love you dearly and will always be grateful for all that you were,
and all that you did.

There will be a gathering at Chuck and Sue's home in Elk Rapids on June 29, 2024, details to
follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Doctor's Without Borders, any charity of your
choice, or reach out to someone in need of anything.

Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service, Covell-Elk Rapids Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.

www; beaconfh.com

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