EDITORIAL:

Some stories are enough to make you sigh; first out of sorrow, then out of joy.

Take Kevin Pryor.

The 31-year-old Newport Beach firefighter died Tuesday of brain complications similar to an aneurysm.

He had returned a day earlier with an Orange County strike team that had been in Northern California battling the Humboldt Fire. He hadn’t complained of any pain or discomfort leading up to his death.

“Most of us are still in a state of shock,” said Deputy Chief Dave Mais.

Coworkers described Pryor as dependable (“He was a role model”) and fun-loving.

A picture of him in uniform shows a young man with an engaging smile.

And he had accomplished much: Rookie Firefighter of the Year for Pismo Beach, valedictorian of the California Firefighter Academy in Riverside, and three years of stellar work in Newport Beach.

“He was known for his wisdom, his work ethic,” Mais said.

This week, firefighters from Newport Beach and — you can bet on it — beyond will say a final farewell to Pryor at a funeral service to be held in Ventura County, where Pryor grew up.

As the saying goes: There aren’t enough words to describe the man, or the loss felt by those, including a mother, father and brother, he left behind. However, there will be an abundance of tears.

But the real story here is Pryor’s life, his legacy.

And following his death, we learned one more thing that testified to a remarkable life.

Kevin Pryor took steps to have his organs donated after he died.

That’s right, at least seven people in need of organs will be helped — even saved — because of Pryor’s selflessness.

So while Pryor’s death is shocking and saddening, his life is ultimately too well-lived not to upstage his passing, and that makes it OK to sigh with joy — even in tough times.