On Sunday morning, November 27, 2022, at 11:55 a.m., David Page McCluskey quietly slipped into eternity. His many loved ones who have gone on before him, especially his mother, Nola Catherine McCluskey, his father, David Allen McCluskey, and his maternal grandmother, Emily Page, welcomed him with open arms. David was also preceded in death by his wife of 40 years, Barbara Rae McCluskey (YOD 2010) and his companion of eight years, Peggy Hickey (YOD 2019).
David lived on this earth for 86 years, 3 months, and 29 days. He enjoyed many years performing and traveling with Eddie Burns and his “Country Boy Eddie Show” where David was known as “Dobro Dave” because he played the dobro guitar and the pedal steel. After leaving his musical career, David reinvented himself as a residential painter who did meticulous work.
After the death of David’s wife, Barbara, in 2010, he met his companion, Peggy Hickey, who lived in Monroeville, Pennsylvania. He moved to Monroeville to be with Peggy and remained with her and cared for her until her death in 2019. David then found himself alone and lonely and decided he should come back home to Birmingham, where he was born and lived most of his life. On October 21, 2022, David’s two sisters and his niece, Catherine Shaw, picked him up in Monroeville and drove him back to Birmingham, Alabama. Unknown to everyone, David rode home, 750 miles, with a broken left hip caused by a fall earlier in the day on October 21st.
The last five weeks of David’s life were spent at UAB Hospital where he received the best care possible from many caring nurses, aides, and technicians. His last six days of life found him in UAB’s Palliative Care Unit where he was treated with dignity and kindness. Finally, when he had no more fight in him, he succumbed to heart and kidney failure.
David is survived by his twin sister, Emily McCluskey Moler (Bernard dec.) of Grayson Valley, Birmingham, and his younger sister, Cathey McCluskey Shaw (Jerry) of Mount Olive, Alabama. He is survived by a son from a brief first marriage, David Page Wood (Deborah) of Pinson, Alabama, one stepdaughter, Debra Patterson of Boaz, Alabama; one grandson, Christopher Devon Wood; four great-granddaughters, all of San Antonio, Texas; two nephews, David Moler (Teresa) and Art Moler (Becca) and two nieces, Catherine Shaw and Leigh Ann Edmonds (Gary).
David had a special friend and neighbor in Monroeville, Al Schmeh, who was of tremendous help to him during the difficult last year of his life. The family wants to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Schmeh for his many acts of kindness.
There will be a small graveside service at Jefferson Memorial Gardens in Trussville, AL at a future date when David’s bronze memorial plaque is in place. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to the Jimmy Hale Mission or your charity of choice.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ridoutsgardendalechapel.com for the McCluskey family.
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