Rosezella E. Keck

Rosezella Elizabeth Keck of Lee's Summit, MO closed her eyes for the last time as she passed away peacefully Sunday morning July 16, 2023 at John Knox Village Care Center. It was then, shortly after sunrise that she awakened to a new glorious day in heaven. She was surrounded by friends and family in the days preceding her passing and was known by several names. To many she was "Rosie", to others "Mom", "Sis" or "Gram", but for nearly the past 20 years she was known to most simply as "Pockets". It was an endearing title bestowed upon her by her great grandchildren and originated from the old nursery rhyme "Ring Around the Rosie". What started as "Rosie Pockets" was quickly abbreviated by young children to "Pockets".
Born December 17, 1931 to Milo and Velna Waugh, Rosie spent most of her formative years growing up in small farm towns across northwest Missouri including Norris, Holden, Latour, and Lone Jack. As the oldest of 6 kids (4 brothers and a sister), Rosie often found herself playing the role of mother to her younger siblings. She graduated from Lone Jack High School where she met her high school sweetheart and future husband, Leroy Keck. They were married on June 30, 1951. Leroy joined the Air Force and the couple spent the first 4 years of their marriage in Wichita Falls, Texas. They then settled in Lone Jack, Missouri and raised two beautiful daughters. To say that Rosie was a devoted wife and mother is probably an understatement. Her love knew no bounds and her work ethic was just as strong.
Rosie held various jobs including general store clerk, school cafeteria worker, and the credit department at Sears Roebuck & Co. for well over 20 years. Eventually she retired from Sears shortly before her husband Leroy's life-altering stroke. Rosie spent the next decade visiting and caring for her husband in a care center every day, without fail, until he passed in 2006. She was a lover of family, food, games and pretty much any excuse she could find to bring the family together. Anyone who ever had the privilege of eating a meal prepared by Rosie understands that it was a delicious and memorable occasion. There was always enough food to feed an army with at least two main dishes, a plethora of sides, and 4-5 desserts.
Sunday was Rosie's favorite day of the week, so it's only appropriate that Sunday was her graduation day to heaven. Jesus Christ was the foundation and center of her life. She was actively involved in her church and greatly enjoyed the company of her many friends at church. Her love of people spilled over into everything she did and she was the ultimate giver. She was also a loyal customer to many different catalog companies and would often buy multiples of anything she ordered. When the ordered item did not fit or meet her expectations, she would always give it away to someone else instead of shipping it back. She gave away countless amounts of money and merchandise and was often known to say "Well, you can't take it with you."
In her later years, Rosie loved playing cards and games with her family, coloring in coloring books, and spending hours putting puzzles together. Her smile and laughter were infectious and her many "Pocketism" sayings will be greatly missed.
Rosie was preceded in death by her husband Leroy, parents Milo and Velna Waugh, her brother Clifford Waugh, her sister Katherine Bowers, and her great grandson Nolan Summers. She is survived by brothers Edward Waugh, Bill Waugh (Annie), and Jay Waugh (Susan); daughters Kathy Bowers (Billy) and Brenda Summers (Ronny); grandchildren Adam Summers (Amy), Heather Atkinson (Chris), Zack Poole (Taylor), Karly (Andrew O'Brien); and 9 great grandchildren.
Visitation Friday, July 21, from 9-10 am at Abundant Life church in Lee's Summit, MO. Funeral service to follow from 10-11am. Burial service at Floral Hills East cemetery in Lee's Summit, MO. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Rosezella can be made to Abundant Life Church, 414 SW Persels Road, Lees Summit, MO 64081.
Arrangements: Royer Funeral Home, Oak Grove, MO 816-690-4441