Missy Nicole Keck (Burfield), of Canton, Ohio, passed away peacefully on January 7, 2026. She lived a remarkable life marked by talent, independence, generosity, and a deep love for family, community, and the world around her.

Born in Canton, Ohio, to Loy Ethel Burfield and Gertrude Anna Burfield (Ellis), Missy showed an early spirit of confidence and capability that would define her entire life. As a child, she was athletic and competitive, playing baseball at a time when few girls did. That same drive followed her into adulthood, where she excelled in bowling leagues and later became an accomplished golfer, winning multiple league championships well into her 60s.

Equally formative was her extraordinary musical gift. Missy began playing the guitar at the age of six and, as a teenager, went on to lead and manage her own orchestra—an uncommon and inspiring accomplishment for a young woman of her era. With her father acting as her manager, she performed with adult musicians and later brought her talents to support the USO during World War II. Music remained a constant throughout her life; she had a rare ability to play nearly any instrument she picked up, including guitar, piano, organ, and violin, and she shared that gift widely throughout her community.

Missy was married twice—first to Alonzo Z. Wade, whom she married on September 12, 1945, and later to Dr. Homer Ivan Keck. Both husbands preceded her in death. During her married years, she was a true social force, active in numerous civic and social organizations including the Canton Women's Club, garden clubs, the Massillon Women's Club, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Daughters of the American Colonists. Stylish and spirited, she was known in the 1950s for driving her MG in automobile rallies, fully embracing the independence and elegance of the time.

A woman of faith, Missy was active in her church community for many years, teaching Sunday school and sharing her musical talents as an organist. Her faith was lived through service, hospitality, and care for others rather than through words alone.

Her home was always a gathering place. As a young mother, it was the house where neighborhood children congregated to play pool and spend their days. Later, as a grandmother, her swimming pool became the same center of gravity for family and friends. A gifted cook who never relied on written recipes, she fed people intuitively and generously, making food an expression of love and welcome.

Missy had a lifelong love of animals and the outdoors. She shared her life with dogs, cats, and birds, and volunteered with the Stark Parks Wildlife Conservation Center, where she helped rehabilitate injured or sick animals and return them to the wild. Gardening and being outside brought her deep joy.

Above all, Missy was the matriarch of her family—confident, competitive, stylish, and unafraid to assert that role when needed. She loved card games, especially canasta, and delighted in a good contest. She was proud of her family and of the life she had built, and in her later years often reflected on her experiences with gratitude and clarity, frequently saying, "I've lived a full and good life."

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, Alonzo Z. Wade and Dr. Homer I. Keck; her daughter, Cynthia Keck-McNulty; her brother, Leon "Bud" Burfield; her sister, Eileen Smith; and her daughter-in-law, Linda M. Wade.

She is survived by her son, Jeffrey Z. Wade; her grandchildren, Jordan Wade (Misha), Angela Wade, Amanda Floyd, Dana Keck, Cody McNulty, Aidan McNulty, and Molly McNulty-Williams (Colin); and her great-grandchildren, Jakob Wade, Cailin Wade, Daxton Oliver, Ethan Floyd, Magdalena Wade, and Evan Floyd.

Missy's life was rich with music, movement, friendship, service, and love. She leaves behind a legacy of independence, warmth, and joy—one that will continue to be felt by all who knew her.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, January 13, 2026 from 12-1 p.m. at the Arnold Funeral Home, 1517 Market Ave. N., Canton, Ohio, 44714. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. at the funeral home and burial will follow at North Lawn Cemetery.