Hazel Vaud Dilley

During the flu pandemic of 1918, on a cold New Year’s Eve, Cortence and William Gage, a miner in Oronogo, Missouri, welcomed their second child, Vaud Hazel, into their family. Vaud, as she was called by the family, had an older brother, Mont, and later two more brothers, Jay and Jimmie, and a sister, Dixie. They were raised in rural Missouri around Sarcoxie and often their meals consisted of whatever was in season at the time or what her mother had “put up” for the winter. She wore dresses made from flour sacks and Vaud told stories of their rural life before cars. She had fond memories of riding along with their father in a horse-drawn wagon while working for the local power company.

During high school, Vaud played basketball and after graduating, headed to the big city to work. Vaud found work and room and board with Frida and Ott who owned a small grocery in Raytown. Raised to be a hard-worker, Vaud moved in and did whatever was needed to be done. As a young woman exploring her new surroundings, Vaud joined a bicycle club and became the “queen” of the club. On a blind date, Vaud was introduced to a motorcycle rider named Charles Gordon Dilley and, after a short courtship, married in 1939 near the end of the Depression.

After living in Kansas City, MO for a few years, Gordon moved Vaud to the 3rd floor apartment in his mother’s home at 1510 Armstrong in Kansas City, KS. Vaud cared for her mother-in-law as she died of cancer while Gordon went into basic training for the Army. A “Rosie the Riveter”, Vaud worked at the BOP Fairfax plant installing heaters in the wings of airplanes. During that time, she studied and got her license to fly planes and was invited to fly during the war effort, but, instead Gordon had her join him in NY where he was stationed. She drove trucks hauling soldiers from NYC to the base.

Vaud became a mother to Charles Gordon, Jr. and then later to Donald Allen, Deborah Sue and Joseph William.

No longer going by “Vaud”, Hazel raised her family of 4. As a fastidious homemaker who liked cooking, cleaning and sewing, Hazel participated in the McKinley PTA and made sure her children were active in St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Scouts and piano lessons while making sure they didn’t venture too far away from their neighborhood on bikes.

After a scary boating incident, Hazel was determined to learn to swim and be able to save lives in the water. Hazel was also always taking classes at Kensington Park and learning new skills like caning chairs, reweaving woolen fabric, upholstering and gardening. She made sure every pie she baked had a 4” high meringue and every shirt was pressed perfectly.

After raising her family, Hazel and Gordon built their dream house in the country near Tonganoxie and she continued to assist Gordon in his side tax business.

Hazel’s family grew to 8 grandchildren and 17 (soon-to-be) great-grandchildren. They all have memories of time spent at her house at holiday family gatherings which were centered around the food Hazel had prepared. During her lifetime, Hazel lost all of her siblings, her husband, Gordon, in 1989, and then out-lived two sons, Chuck and Joe.

After Gordon’s passing, Hazel moved to Basehor and lived independently until the age of 98. Her time was spent swimming and enjoying her new-found social life with girlfriends at the YMCA in Bonner Springs. Hazel often said that besides her family, that time of her life, was her happiest. Celebrating her 90th and 100th birthdays with those friends and family were a highlight. When it was time to give up driving, Hazel settled at The Piper Assisted Living facility. Hazel met new friends there enjoying playing cards and going to their holiday parties. Hazel was grateful for the caregivers both at the Piper and for Elara Caring Hospice and Catholic Community Hospice. Hazel’s granddaughter, Jennifer, was her hospice nurse at the end of life. Hazel passed peacefully in her apartment on July 30th, 2023 with her family surrounding her with love.

Hazel will be laid to rest at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Kansas City, KS next to her husband on Friday, August 4, 2023 at a 11:00 am Graveside service. Then continue your support by attending a visitation and reception afterwards at the Chapel Hill-Butler Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to share your love of Hazel by doing something nice for someone else like baking them a pie or making sure a loved one knows how to swim.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.chapelhill-butler.com for the Dilley family.