A community mourns

Lucy Preston, 61, died Saturday afternoon from injuries sustained in a house explosion that destroyed her Comstock Park home earlier this week.

The Kent County Sheriff's Office confirmed her death. Preston had been hospitalized with fourth-degree burns and was on a ventilator since Tuesday morning.

Investigators believe her husband, Doug Preston, intentionally leaked natural gas into their basement in an attempted murder-suicide. Doug Preston is believed to have died in the blast. A positive identification of his body is still pending, according to the sheriff's office.

The explosion

The blast occurred around 4 a.m. Tuesday, May 26 on Rollaway Drive NE, south of 7 Mile Road NE in Plainfield Township.

The explosion was powerful enough to prompt approximately 50 calls to 911. Residents as far as miles away reported hearing the blast.

"It sounded like a huge bomb being dropped," neighbor Chanel Raddatz told News 8.

Two neighbors pulled Lucy Preston from the burning home. The house was destroyed.

A marriage unraveling

Court documents show Lucy Preston filed for divorce in March. A court hearing was scheduled for the couple on Friday, May 29.

Sunday would have been the Prestons' 40th wedding anniversary.

The Kent County undersheriff said that text messages between the couple and statements Lucy Preston made before being taken to the hospital provided authorities with evidence of the alleged murder-suicide, according to WOOD TV.

A life of service

Preston was deeply involved in her community. She founded Busia's Boutique at Jackson Street Hall in 2024. The nonprofit provides free clothing and toiletries for families in need.

She was also an active member of the Polish National Aid Society. The group's 200 members are now working to keep her mission alive.

"She's bubbly, joyful, kind," said Anna Tylzynski, president of the Polish National Aid Society. "She provides joy, she gives joy, she is joy."

Tylzynski said Preston helped tear off old siding during the society's renovation of Jackson Street Hall. Preston suggested starting a children's clothing mission during that work, and the nonprofit grew from there.

"She will pitch in wherever. Also has run the children's Christmas program, where we buy gifts for our member families for the young children," Tylzynski said.

The Polish Heritage Society of Grand Rapids described Preston as a "vibrant and cherished" member of the community in a social media post Saturday.

"She generously committed herself to the restoration of the Jackson Street Hall, which was just one of many acts of kindness she offered throughout her life in the community; to be around her warm spirit was truly a beautiful place to be," the society wrote.

How to help

Those who wish to donate to Lucy Preston's family can contribute through her GoFundMe page, according to FOX 17.

For individuals dealing with domestic violence, resources are available:

• Safe Haven Ministries 24/7 Hotline: (616) 452-6664
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: (800) 799-7233

Those resources were listed by WWMT in their coverage of the case.