Wendell "Allen" Pickett

Wendell “Allen” Pickett, 67, of North Kansas City, passed away on November 12, 2025. He was born on December 9, 1957, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Wendell J. Pickett and Lillian G. Pickett (Overton). Allen was a devoted father to his children: Scott Pickett (wife Bethany), Katie (husband Matt), and Lilli Hill. He was also a proud and loving “Papaw” to Nella Murdick, Lucy Murdick, Elijah Hill, Nora Hill, Brenya Sumrall, and Hendrix Pickett, each of whom brought him tremendous joy. In recent years, Allen enjoyed companionship with Julia Haury and their dog Brewtus.

Allen enjoyed sports, music, church-life, fishing, plants, spoiling his grandkids and hanging out with his family. He had a passion for sharing music that spoke to him. Vocationally, Allen answered a call to community service work following a long tenure with Service Reprographics. While pursuing his education through Mid-America Nazarene University, and the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions, his call led him to Kansas City Rescue Mission serving homeless men and women, and then, Cross-lines Community Outreach serving people in the Kansas City area affected by poverty.

Allen was kind, humble, generous, just, and had a great sense of humor. He was the king of one liners and always had us laughing. Comments made about Allen from friends and family include, ‘he was one of a kind and a wonderful person’, ‘he always had a smile on’, ‘he made a huge impact on my life as a church youth group leader’, ‘he was my hero’, ‘I always admired him and looked up to him.’ Allen touched many lives through his many years of serving and volunteering. He lived out his faith in his daily walk and through the ministries of the local church.

Allen will be greatly missed but not forgotten. Memories of him and the ways he lived his life go with us. We give thanks that he is at rest and peace in the Lord now.