(Page C7)Minister took religion on roadBy 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