Allder Dean Maze

Garden City, Missouri - On March 31, 2025, Allder Dean Maze, husband, father and grandfather, passed away at the age of 89 alongside his wife of 37 years, Karen Maze, who departed her earthly life at his side.

Allder was born on March 10, 1936 in Dadeville, Missouri to Herschel “Dean” and Martha Margaret Maze. He was the eldest of five children. Those who knew him, remember him as a man who always cherished his family and never failed to help folks in need. His smile was engaging, his loyalty was unwavering and his enthusiasm to share his extensive knowledge, especially of family and regional history and geography, was captivating.

Allder attended school in Dadeville, Missouri until the family moved to Raytown, Missouri where he graduated from Raytown High School in 1953. He loved to play basketball and race cars on the early Kansas City dirt tracks. He also adored to “cut-a-rug” and was an enthusiastic hoofer out on the dance floor!

Allder was a career-long Meat Cutter and belonged to the UFCW Union. He began working while he was in high school to help support his family. Over the years, he worked for several Kansas City area groceries, holding his last position as the Manager of the Meat Department at Robandee IGA. He was a valued employee, manager and mentor and made many lifelong friends throughout his career.

Allder moved to Kansas City, later to Grandview, and thereafter a little further south to Belton before he, along with his wife Karen Maze, found their “little slice of heaven” off of Highway 7 in Garden City, Missouri. While he worked and started his family in the city, his heart always yearned to get back to the farm. He was never happier than when he, often along with one of his grandkids, went out to count the cows.

Allder and Karen shared their land with many animals including horses, dogs, cats, chickens, guineas and even peacocks, but it was his hunting dogs that held his heart. He was a member of Quails Unlimited. He always enjoyed quail hunting with his buddies and his dogs. He loved training and watching his dogs, whether they were brittanys or pointers, work.

Allder, in partnership with his dear buddy, John Cole, chose raising black Angus cattle as his retirement project. He loved to nurture them, building the herd and seeing the calves born into this world. Most evenings found him blissfully checking on the cattle and enjoying being out surveilling his land. In his own words, that was just “Alright, alright!”

Allder held a lifelong enjoyment of reading. He was a regular patron of the Garden City Library, where he checked out several books each week. He loved reading or hearing about history, especially local or regional historical information. His family and friends were often dazzled by his ability to recall facts, figures and tales down to the smallest detail. His family valued him as a go-to source of knowledge about family lineage, colorful anecdotes and roadside revelations.

Allder was a member of the Masonic Lodge, Washington Lodge #86, receiving his 50 year pin in 2014 and the Royal Order of Jesters, Kansas City Court #54. He had also been a member of the Jaycees in Grandview, MO. Family was everything to Allder and he loved spending time with them or, each day, watching for new pictures of his sweet great grandson, Aiden. 

Allder is survived by his daughter, SueAnn Maze Heim (David) of Prairie Village, KS, step-son Shane Hendricks (Kim) of Raymore, MO, step-daughter Shannon Goodwin (Tony) of Hillsdale, KS.Grandchildren are Nathaniel Maze (Stephanie) of Kissimmee, FL, Lauren Maze of Roeland Park, KS, Mazey Heim of Denver, CO, Chayton Hendricks and Keegan Hendricks of Raymore, MO and Briana Hughes(Cory). He was also blessed with 4 Great Grandchildren and 1 Great-Great Grandchild. He is survived by his siblings Carol Gunsuallas of Lee’s Summit, MO, Robert Maze of Stockton, MO and Joan Ireland of Marshfield, MO. He also leaves behind many beloved nieces, nephews and cousins.

Preceding him in death were his parents, his son Steven Maze and his sister Mary Kennedy.

A Celebration of Life for Allder and Karen will be held on Friday, May 9, 2025 from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM at the 315 Event Space, 315 Main Street, Garden City, MO. His graveside interment will be on Saturday, May 10, 2025 at 2:00 PM at the Dadeville Masonic Cemetery in Dadeville, MO. In lieu of flowers, do a kindness for a neighbor or help someone in need, as it is what Allder would have preferred. “Alright, alright!”