Leon D. Stancliff, 80, gospel preacher, teacher, author and Christian friend, passed away at his Murfreesboro, Tenn., home Tuesday, 10 April, 2007. He was a resident of Rutherford County, Tenn., for 45 years.
Brother Stancliff graduated 1953 from David Lipscomb College with a B.S. degree in speech and Bible followed by an M.S. from Middle Tennessee State University and Ed. S. from Peabody College. He taught nine years in public schools before becoming a physical science professor at MTSU where he taught for 28 years. He retired in 1988 after 37 years of teaching.
Brother Stancliff preached for various churches of Christ in Middle Tennessee, including Pomona and Tennessee City congregations in Dickson County. In Rutherford County he preached for Dilton, Sharpesville, Antioch, Lascassas, Fosterville, and New Zion congregations. He also worked with Vine in Wilson County, and Beech Grove in Coffee County. Brother Stancliff did preacher training at the East Main church in Murfreesboro for 17 years. He wrote 30 books, including commentaries covering each book of the Bible.
He was the son of the late Bertha and L.D. Stancliff. He is survived by brothers Fred and Frank, and a sister, Melva Stancliff. (Another brother, Richard, is deceased.) He and his wife Marie had three sons and a daughter. There were 11 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.
His funeral was Friday, 13 April 2007, at Jennings and Ayers funeral home, and the burial was at Evergreen Cemetery. Johnny Brown, James Lively, Mike Steakley, and Richard Gibbs officiated.
2007-05-14 at 1:54 pm
Leon Stancliff was a fine Christian gentleman. When I was in junior high school, I attended some of his classes in the Murfreesboro School of Bible and Preaching at the East Main Church of Christ in Murfreesboro. I found his class on the Old Testament prophets particularly fascinating.
He was also an active chess player who helped found the first chess club in Murfreesboro, The Rutherford Rank & File. I remember with great fondness riding with him to chess tournaments in Crossville and Cookeville in my high school and college days. Although I haven’t had contact with him in a number of years, I’m sad to have heard about his passing, but have no doubt that he is now at home with the Lord.
2007-06-11 at 4:59 pm
I well remember Professor Stancliff as he not only taught one of my freshman chemistry courses at MTSU but we were frequent Chess competitors at the Rutherford County and MTSU Chess Clubs. It is still hard for me to believe that 41 years have passed since Leon and I first met. I last saw him when we had lunch together during the Tennessee Chess Open in Nashville in 1983.
He was always a first class gentleman and I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of his friendship. I very much regret letting so much time pass without contacting him. From this lesson, I shall make an effort to renew old friendships that meant so much to me years ago. Even in his passing, Leon is still teaching me valuable life lessons and I am grateful that he and I spent some time together on this Earth.