Marion Louise Kyser

Marion Gehrke Kyser sadly passed away October 31, 2022 at her residence in Novi, Michigan at the age of 100. She was born on August 4, 1922 in Detroit, Michigan. She graduated in 1944 from the Nursing Program at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, and soon after joined the US Navy. As an Ensign, her assignment was plastic surgery where she learned state of the art skin grafting. She met Carroll Kyser, a Marine Lieutenant while in service. They married on November 27, 1946 and had four children together. Dr. Kyser attended Wayne State University receiving her BS in Nursing in 1955 and a Masters in Education and Counseling in 1957. She went on to teach at Henry Ford Community College in Dearborn until 1963 when she began counseling students there. In 1971, Marion received her Ph.D from the University of Michigan in Group Counseling, a new concept at the time. Then, in 1971-72 she was awarded a post graduate scholarship at University of Florida. Marion fulfilled a life-long dream of living in a warm climate when she bought her condo in Daytona Beach Shores, Florida to become Director of Counseling for Daytona Beach Community College until 1977. Tired of administrative work, she wanted to return to helping people, and began counseling and teaching as an adjunct professor at Stetson University and Daytona Beach Community College. Marion was devoted to serving her community and keeping the area safe and beautiful. Beginning in 1984 she served as a member on the Daytona Beach Shores Planning and Zoning Board and the Volusia County’s Growth Management Commission. She helped create the motto for Daytona Beach Shores: “Life Is Better Here.” Dr. Kyser served nine years on the City Council, elected to the City Council in 1994 and Vice Mayor in 1998. She was well read on every issue and was proud of her accomplishments in defending the environment and citizens She played tennis every morning with friends and walked the beach every day until she was 89! Fitness and competition were important to her. Marion won many trophies playing in the city leagues and independently. She was instrumental in having a Tennis Court built across the street from her condo and she became the first member of the Oceans Racket Club. She also loved to read, sing, journal, play games with friends and family, and uphold her Scrabble championship. Marion Kyser was an accomplished, adventurous, honest and upbeat woman. She never had a bad word to say about anyone. She loved traveling the world throughout her long life, spending quality time with her beloved family, and was proud of her life well-lived. She will be sorely missed. Marion is preceded in death by her son Ronald (Susan) Kyser, and survived by her children Chris (Joellen) Kyser, Cynthia Haas and Susan (Mike) Scalisi; Her 10 grandchildren Lauren (Kyser) Newsom, Stacey Kyser, Alexandra (Kyser) Street, Tracey (Kyser) Corbin, Jesse (Beth) Kyser and Levi (Laine) Kyser, Lisbeth (Haas) Kuhn, Audrey Haas, Gina (Scalisi) Tischendorf, Marielle (Scalisi) Hensley and 15 great-grandchildren. A private service has been held.