Christopher Michael Maize

Mar 11, 1975 -

Feb 4, 2021

Christopher Michael Maize was born on March 11, 1975, in Mesa, Ariz., and died unexpectedly on Feb. 4, 2021, in a plane crash in the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Alaska. He lived in Glennallen at the time of his death.

Chris was a gentle, humble man of few words, yet he impacted many people during his life. He loved Jesus Christ with a fierce passion and sought to follow Him in everything he did. His single goal in life was to use his many talents of art, writing, music, leather working, engraving, gunsmithing and even knitting for God's glory.

Chris graduated in 1993 from Camp Verde High School in Camp Verde, Ariz. He attended Yavapai College and studied Graphic Design.

Chris met his wife, Lari Gary, in Phoenix, and they were married in 2001. They were blessed with two daughters, Junior and Rusty, who were his absolute pride and joy.

Chris embodied the Alaskan spirit and one of his greatest passions, besides Jesus and his family, was flying. He was a conscientious and highly-skilled bush pilot who was well respected in the Alaska aviation community. He loved the peaceful solitude of flying in the winter surrounded by some of the highest mountains in the United States. Chris flew the U.S. mail and passengers through the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park to remote McCarthy for Copper Valley Air Service. He often commented how he had seen places only few people in the world had ever seen. He lived and died doing what he loved.

Christopher is survived by his wife, Lari; two daughters, Junior and Rusty; father, Ladd (Gwena); mother, Vickie (Kevin); brother, Sean; sisters, Allie and Kelly; nephews, Laddie and Sam; nieces, Giana and Gracie; as well as numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Bill and Betty Wright and Al and Jean Maize.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, March 6, 2021, at the Copper Valley Air Service hanger, Mile 118 Richardson Highway in Glennallen, at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested for the Christopher Maize Memorial Scholarship at https://gofund.me/a4228173, to continue Chris' life work of inspiring and blessing others.

For such a quiet man, the impact of his life speaks volumes. We are all better for knowing him and he will be missed every single day. But we are assured that he is with his Savior, Jesus Christ, and that gives us hope and peace in such a difficult time.