Gary William Liddell, 76, of Livonia, Michigan, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday June 24, 2026.  He was born February 27, 1950 in Detroit, MI to Robert Edward Liddell and Emma Frances Wise. He was the third boy in a family of six children.  He grew up in Redford, Michigan and attended Thurston High School where he ran cross country, was senior class president and homecoming king.

After high school, Gary went to the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, and later earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Wayne State University in Detroit.  He majored in French, also pursued an electronics certification, later becoming a computer engineer at Chrysler where he worked for 49 years.

He met his future wife, Sandy, at First Church of the Nazarene in Detroit, MI where they both participated in the Salt Company college ministry.  They were married on June 4,1977 and briefly lived in Farmington Hills, MI.  Gary applied his electronics certificate and appreciation for classical music to a job at WQRS, a radio station in Detroit that aimed to make classical music more approachable to the public.  Gary was responsible for recording and broadcasting concerts at the Masonic Temple and other venues.  Gary and Sandy bought their first home in 1978 in Detroit, Michigan, where they later welcomed their daughter, Emily, in 1982.  After moving to Livonia in 1989, they welcomed their son, Graham, in 1991.

Beyond his family life and work at Chrysler, Gary was known for his love of books, music, and in-depth conversations.  He instilled in his children a deep appreciation for the arts, and also fine food and drink.  His relentless drive to better understand the world – through explorations of history, science, politics, and foreign languages – was contagious.  A self-described epicure, Gary was a regular attender of local meetup groups focused on French conversation, opera, and foreign films.

Gary also had a quiet appreciation for nature.  He and Sandy took many trips together, both as a couple and with their children, visiting spectacular Northern Michigan sites like the Porcupine Mountains and the Sleeping Bear Dunes, along with more distant destinations: Vermont, Maine, the Smoky Mountains, the Outer Banks, and Myrtle Beach.  He had a penchant for bird watching and enjoyed sitting on his back deck and drinking a good glass of wine while observing the animal life in his backyard.

Gary was blessed to have a relationship with three beautiful grandchildren.  For over 14 years, Gary traveled to Virginia where his daughter’s family resides to be present for holidays and birthdays, visit historic sites, attend recitals and swim meets, and create numerous memories with his first two grandchildren, Lexie and Will.  He was known for buying them special gifts, including books and even an easel, to impart his love of art and literature to them.  In the last two years of his life, he enjoyed visits and FaceTime calls from his new granddaughter, Joanna – “Grandpa” was one of her first words.  His fourth grandchild, Alma, was born the day after he died.

Gary is survived by his wife, Sandy of 49 years, two children, Emily (Eric) and Graham (Julia), and four grandchildren – Alexa and William Tosh, and Joanna and Alma Liddell.  He is also survived by four of his siblings, Paul (Juanita) Liddell, Bradley (Rosalie) Liddell, Peggy Leinbach, and Sue (Tim) Iversen.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Edward Liddell and Emma Frances Wise, his sister Joanne Boyce, and his nephew Zachary Liddell. 

The family will receive loved ones at the Fred Wood Rice - Modetz Funeral Home at 36100 Five Mile Rd, Livonia, MI 48154 on Wednesday July 1st, 2026 from 3 to 8pm.  A celebration of Gary’s Life will be held on Thursday, July 2nd at 11:00am, at the same location.  A brief committal ceremony will take place at the Parkview Cemetery at 34205 Five Mile Road, Livonia, Michigan immediately following the service.  

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or Angela Hospice of Livonia, Michigan.

Gary’s warm and playful presence will be forever felt by his family, and his tender-hearted spirit will live on through his children and grandchildren.  Rest in peace.

Revelation 21: 4-5a

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. “

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”