JOHN EMERSON LAYCOCK

The Rev. John Emerson Laycock died at his home in Presque Isle, Michigan, on Feb. 22, 2025, after a long illness. He was born March 30, 1946, in Orlando, Florida. He was 79 years old.

He graduated from Culver Military Academy, Culver, Indiana, Class of 1963. He was also a 1969 graduate of Denison University, Granville, Ohio, where he received a B.A. Degree. He began his career managing Michigan Press Reading Service, a newspaper clipping bureau in Williamston, Michigan. With his parents, brother, and sister he had become a member of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. His interest in religion grew in Michigan, at All Saints Episcopal Church, East Lansing. He was leading the youth group when he felt called to ordination. Before going to Seminary, he was, for a year, the editor of the monthly publication of the Diocese of Michigan. He was a 1984 graduate of The General Theological Seminary, New York City, where he received a Master of Divinity. He was ordained a Deacon in 1984 and a Priest in 1985 while serving Christ Church, Detroit as Associate Rector. From there he became Rector of St. Columba Episcopal Church, Detroit. He then became interested in Interim Ministry, a part of the vocation that serves Churches between priests, often after a difficult ministry for both the priest and congregation. In Southeast Michigan, he did seven Interims ‘up and down river’ as he said. His final Interim before retirement in 2010 was at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Grand Haven. Post-retirement John offered Sunday Supply ministry to several churches (including at least one Lutheran Church), to a greater or lesser distance from home, most frequently Grace Episcopal Church, Lachine. Due to declining health, following the pandemic, John determined it was time to re-retire. He had many enduring friendships from his 40-plus years before and following his ordination.

John loved to travel by almost any means except air. His planning, by whatever means, was both interesting and detailed. He was an avid traveler by car, but his greatest love was train travel. He also took several cruises. Age and declining health precluded a family trip to China that he and his brothers had hoped to make to see the land where his grandfather had been the first person ever to travel the entire length of The Great Wall over a hundred ten years ago.

A passion of John’s ministry was Camp Chickagami, the Episcopal Church Camp, located in Presque Isle. He had Diocesan responsibility for Camp ‘Chick’ for several years, and it led him to purchase building lots immediately adjacent to the Camp. The passionate amount of detailed planning that characterized his trips was exceeded by his involvement in the design of the home he eventually built there.

John had become fascinated with the Civilian Conservation Corps, a Depression-era government work relief program from 1933 to 1942. He would often work visiting one or more sites into his driving trips. At the time of his death, he was part-way into a novel based on the Corps and the people in it.

He was predeceased by his parents, Ralph Bradley Laycock and Constance Emerson Geil Laycock. He is survived by his brothers, Ralph Bradley Laycock, Jr. (and his wife, Letitia Lee Smith), of North Ridgeville, Ohio, and Robert C. Laycock, (and his husband, David G. Lansaw), of Rocky River, Ohio. He is also survived by his sister, Constance Joyce Laycock, of Rochester, New York. He is further survived by his nephews, Scott C. Laycock (and his wife Pamela), of Farmington, New York, and Justin

Emerson Laycock (and his wife, Jennifer), of North Ridgeville, Ohio, and several cousins.

John’s funeral will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church, Alpena, Michigan on May 9, 2025, at 11 a.m. A reception will follow, and then a Service of Committal will be held at Presque Isle Township Cemetery on Kaufman Blvd. The Celebrant of the Service will be The Rt. Reverend Mark D. W. Edington, Bishop of the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe, based in Paris. Their friendship dates to the youth group John led over 40 years earlier and is an example of the enduring friendships John developed.

Gifts may be made to The Diocese of Michigan, or the Diocese of the Great Lakes for the benefit of Camp Chickagami. The family is grateful to Ted Beck of Beck Funeral Home in Rogers City for assistance above all expectations to John and the family.