Rev. David McCall Liscomb of Crystal Falls, MI passed away at the age of 88 on April 6th in Glendale, AZ after gallantly battling a long, debilitating illness. David knew “whose he was and where he was going” and passed from this earth with grace and peace to the arms of his Lord.
David was born January 24, 1933 in Romeo, MI to Leroy Louis and Ellen Blanche Liscomb and attended schools in Romeo. On October 15, 1955 he married Arlene Steffen of Centerline, MI. Together, they raised four children. Rev. Liscomb was a charter graduate of Oakland University in Rochester, MI where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree, and a Master of Divinity Degree from Bexley Hall, the Divinity School of Kenyon College in Gambier, OH. Throughout his life he remained grateful to the high school teacher who submitted a letter of recommendation to the college admissions board on his behalf, believing that David’s persistence in repeating his math class not once but three times was ample evidence of the strength of character and determination that would surely set him on a successful path in college and in life. In kind, he was a strong and loving role model to his kids and grands, always encouraging that they could do anything in life of their choosing if they committed to the work to achieve their dreams. He truly did.
An Ordained Minister of the United Methodist Church (UMC), he served a number of churches in Michigan and Ohio including Paint Creek, Howarth, Clinton, Escanaba First, Bark River, Trinity UMC in Iron Mountain, Troy First, Mt. Clemens First, Sault Ste Marie Central, and Algonquin UMC, retiring in 1998 after forty-three years in the Ministry. He was a true servant of the Lord, spreading the gospel of Jesus in how he lived and loved on a daily basis. As a retired pastor, he was happy to be in the pew and singing (quite loudly and unashamedly off-key) all his favorite hymns. Fellowship with his “pew-pals” was a treasure.
In spite of a visual handicap, he loved to read very large print British mysteries, play cards with his true love Arlene, solve most of the world’s problems while swimming at their winter condo in Arizona, and tinker around the house. Having characterized his own youth as “largely misspent”, he delighted in the glint in the eyes of a mischievous child, those who lived life to the fullest, and the unconventional. He loved telling a funny story and rarely got to the punch line before bursting at the seams with laughter! Although he appreciated opera, the symphony, and the classics, his eyes joyously runneth over with laugh-tears during his favorite movies “O Brother Where Art Thou” and “Waking Ned Devine”.
He is survived by his loving wife Arlene of Crystal Falls, MI and Peoria, AZ, an identical twin brother Robert of Sterling Heights, MI (David being the oldest and best looking), son Steven (Vanessa) of Amasa, MI, daughter Candice Liscomb (Greg Stough) of Dakar, Senegal, daughter Stephanie West (Terry) of Lexington, VA, five grandchildren [Mercedes Maki (Aaron), Cassandra Poirier (Justin), Kindrina, John, and Stephanie Stough], and three great-grandchildren [Eero and Ada Maki and Oliver Poirier].
In addition to his parents, Rev. Liscomb was preceded in death by his son Andrew Liscomb of Amasa, MI, his beloved cat Calvin Liscomb, a sister Roberta Smiles of Romeo, MI, and a brother George Liscomb of Tavaras, FL.
A memorial service for Rev. Liscomb will be held at Christ United Methodist Church in Crystal Falls, MI this summer. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Christ United Methodist Church, 20 S. 5th Street, Crystal Falls, MI 49920. Nash Funeral Service is handling Rev. Liscomb’s cremation and burial in the Romeo MI cemetery.
To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Rev. David McCall Liscomb, please visit Nash Funeral Home & Creation Services.
Last Updated on April 14, 2021