Have you ever known someone who was a positive influence in your life and the lives of many others? Kathy was an amazing lady who touched the lives of anyone she met. Kathy was very personable and outgoing and after a brief 10 minute chat with Kathy, you were left with a warm heart and a smile on your face.
Kathy was born in Allegan, Michigan and was the youngest of three siblings. Kathy graduated from Holland High School in 1975 and earned her Bachelor's degree at the University of Albuquerque in 1985.
Kathy Prangley was my wife and best friend for 30 years. I met Kathy in 1977 at the Green Apple nightclub, during a major snowstorm in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Our night was cut short due to the weather, but we stayed in touch and in 1979 we were married in an outdoor wedding at Johnson Park in Grandville, Michigan.
In 1981 we made the decision to move to Albuquerque, New Mexico. Kathy landed a job with a top Accounting firm and her love of Accounting drove her to sit for the CPA exam five years later. Kathy was a graduate from the University of Albuquerque in 1985, shortly before giving birth to our first child, Sean on July 31. 18 months later, on March 11, 1987 Kathy gave birth to our second Son, Troy. You can understand her strength when I tell you both boys were born weighing 10.12 and 10.10 pounds, respectively. Kathy had the patience of a saint and I give her much of the credit for raising two outstanding young men.
Kathy was an avid reader and she loved reading Stephen King, and she had every book Stephen King authored. In her passing, more than 700 books were donated to family and friends, with the bulk of them donated to the Placitas Library.
Kathy's second love was her exercise routine. Kathy attended Jazzercise and Pilates several times per week, and she encouraged her husband and boys to keep fit by exercising and eating right. Kathy loved to cook and she always made sure we ate healthy and she enjoyed preparing our favorite dishes, for any occasion.
Kathy loved to travel and our family was fortunate to travel to Europe, Hawaii, Australia and regular trips to the Caribbean. In 2004, to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary, Kathy and I organized a family cruise for 42 family members. It was one of the most memorable trips, and family members still talk about the family cruise today. In June 2009 Kathy and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary at Martha's Vineyard, on a sailboat enjoying a surf and turf dinner. It was fabulous. ☺
Kathy was preceded in death by her parents, Melvin and Theresa Brest. Kathy is survived by me, her husband, Jim; two sons, Sean Prangley and wife, Andrea of Albuquerque, and Troy Prangley of Albuquerque; brother, Bruce Brest and wife, Penny of Colorado; and sister, Linda Mackey of Wayland, Michigan.
It's been more than three years since Kathy passed away and there hasn't been a week that has passed that I haven't thought about her or been reminded of our wonderful years together.
