Michael;
I'm afraid you have a mushroomed lifter. The bottom is worn and spread so it won't come out easily. Also if it that bad there is a good chance your cam lobe is worn also. A new cam and lifter set looks like the fix. The best way to get it out is to remove the cam and push the lifter down without dropping it down into the engine. If you yank it out the top,you may scratch the lifter bore but it would be easier, the lifter is ruined anyway so you can put vise grips on it and slowly wiggle sideways,back and forth as you pull up on it.
good Luck,
Perry.
