Max A. DeArmey (5/10/1920 - 4/6/2002)

Son of Harry J. DeArmey and Eva Varner
Married to Helen E. Shaffer
The following two articles appeared in the Johnstown Tribune-Democrat on Monday, April 8, 2002

(Page C7)

Minister took religion on road

By KIRK SWAUGER The TRIBUNE-DEMOCRAT

  The Rev. Max DeArmey of Holsopple, a 
retired Somerset County pastor who spent five 
years in the late 1950s on the road with his 
family as a barnstorming evangelist in the
South, died Saturday following a seven-month 
illness.  He was 81.
  After he graduated from St. Paul Bible Insti-
tute in Minnesota, Rev. DeArmey, his wife and 
four children hit the road preaching in a trail-
er, recalled his daughter, Sue Lipscomb of 
Smith Mountain Lake, Va.
  "It took a total act of faith," she said.
  The family ended up in Oklahoma with two 
flat tires.  As it turned out, the man who helped
fix the flats was a pastor at a Nazarene church.  
He agreed to let Rev. DeArmey preach, and "it 
didn't stop for five years," Mrs. Lipscomb said.
  "The Lord provided," she said.  "If they 
couldn't pay us money, there was always lots 
of canned food."
  Another daughter, Mary Kay "Katie" Lasure, 
wife of Rev. D. Wayne Lasure of the Boswell 
area, remembered being a nervous 3-year old, 
sitting on her father's lap on stage by a piano.  
"We sang as a family," she said.  "I got scared to 
sing in front of people.  I went to the altar, they 
prayed for me, and I got up and began singing."
  As his children grew older, Rev. DeArmey 
decided to return to his roots in Somerset 
County in 1963.  He served as pastor of Listie 
Grace Brethren Church, Gray Christian and 
Missionary Alliance and Jenners Grace 
Brethren before retiring in 1995.
  Even after retiring, he continued to serve 
God through Christioan Ministry Services and 
Somerset Alliance Church.
  "He just had a passion for people and the 
way of God," Mrs. Lipscomb said.
  In addition to his two daughters, Rev. 
DeArmey is survived by his wife of 56 years, 
the former Helen E. Shaffer; two sons, Timo-
thy J. of Bristow, Va., and Cary L. of Savanna, 
Ga; nine grandchildren; two great-grandchil-
dren; five step-grandchildren; and 10 step 
great-grandchildren.
  Hoffman Funeral Home, Route 409 and 
Church Road in Davidsville, is in charge of 
arrangements
(unknown page)
DeARMEY - The Rev. Max A., 81, 
Gilbert Hollow Road, Hollsopple 
R.D., our beloved husband, dad and 
granddad went to be with the Lord, 
with whom he is rejoicing, April 6, 
2002. Born May 10, 1920, in Orbiso-
nia, Pa., son of Harry J. and P. Eva 
(Varner) DeArmey. Preceded in 
death by parents; sister, Catherine 
Baith; and brother, Richard. Sur-
vived by wife of 56 years, former 
Helen E. Shaffer; four children: 
Cary L., married to Hazel Works, 
Savanna, Ga.; Sue, married to Jack 
C. Lipscomb, Smith Mountain Lake, 
Va.; Timothy J., Bristow, Va.; and 
Mary Kay "Katie," married to the 
Rev. D. Wayne Lasure, Boswell 
R.D.; nine grandchildren: Douglas 
Moyer, Bill DeArmey, Eric Lasure, 
Scott DeArmey, Travis DeArmey, 
Matthew Lasure, Tara (Lasure) 
Mauzy, Julie DeArmey and Jesse 
Lasure; two great-grandchildren: 
Taylor and Quintin Moyer; five 
step-grandchildren; and 10 step 
great-grandchildren. Served as an 
evangelist and pastor for 48 years, 
including service at these area 
churches from 1964 to 1995: Listie 
Grace Brethren, Gray Christian & 
Missionary Alliance and Jenners 
Grace Brethren. After retirement, 
he continued to serve the Lord 
through Christian Ministry Serv-
ices. Attended Somerset Alliance 
Church. Army Air Corps. veteran of 
World War II, having served in the 
European, African, Middle Eastern 
Campaign. Friends received from 2 
to 9 p.m. Monday at Hoffman Funer-
al Home, Route 403 and Church 
Road, Davidsville. Viewing also 
from 10 a.m. until time of service at 
11 a.m. Tuesday at Jenners Grace 
Brethren Church, the Rev. James E. 
Vandervort officiating. Interment, 
Thomas Mennonite Cemetery, Thom-
as Mills. In lieu of flowers, memo-
rials may be given to Jenners Grace 
Brethren Church or Somerset Alli-
ance Church. 

The descendants of Rev Max DeArmey and Helen E. Shaffer are