Audrey “Mickey” Kaleka Burnside was born to Beatrice Chang-Wong and Charles Smith, Feb. 19, 1942, in Honolulu, Hawaii.
After graduating from high school in Honolulu, she would go on many adventures. As a military brat living with her “real” dad, Paul Akina Wong Sr., she resided in Kettering, England and Zweibrucken and Landstuhl, Germany. Her life would be filled with travel abroad; Alaska, Oregon, California, Idaho, Montana, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Wyoming, Mexico, Germany, England and of course, Hawaii.
On Feb. 2, 1962, Audrey married Donald Gilbert Burnside Sr., in Tacoma, Wash. They met when Donald, who was serving our country in the United States Navy, was stationed in Long Beach, Calif., but on assignment in Honolulu. Dad’s visits were enough for mom to say “I do” and pull away from the island lifestyle. This would forever change our family and shape who we are now.
In the beginning, Don’s career path required that they move between Washington and Hawaii. He drove a truck for Weyerhaeuser, was a construction foreman for Hawaii’s State Labor Board and finally, he was employed as a machine operator at Puget Sound Diecasting in Tacoma, where they settled in 1971. She retired as an office administrator from Tacoma Skilled Nursing Facility. They moved to Chehalis in 1993.
Mickey was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Donald; and her parents, Beatrice and Paul.
She is survived by two daughters, Tane L. Gooding of Phenix City, Ala., and Tammy (Ken) Tester of San Jose, Calif.; four sons, Donald G.K. Burnside Jr. and Paulo (Mapuana) L. Burnside of Tacoma, Wash., Stacy R.N. Burnside of Joshua Tree, Calif., and Jason A.K. (Jamie) Burnside of Chehalis, Wash.; 12 grandchildren; and 9 great-grandchildren.
Visitation was Friday, Jan. 13, 2017, at Sticklin Funeral Chapel in Centralia. No services are planned. At Mickey’s request, she will be cremated in a private ceremony. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to a charity of your choice.
Thanks, Mom and Dad, for the choices that you made. We are forever grateful and know that you are dancing on the beach again; happy and at peace! Mahalo, Aloha and Godspeed! ~ Ohana Burnside
