BURRIS, Hilda Kathleen (Kay)

Hilda Kathleen (Kay) Burris, 89, died March 17, 2004 at Mayfair Group Home in Mesa, Arizona. A memorial service was held at the Gold Canyon United Methodist Church, 6640 S. Kings Ranch Road, Gold Canyon, AZ, on Saturday, April 24, 2004. Kay was born on October 14, 1914 to Agnes and Peter Christiansen on the island of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. She, her siblings, and parents gained US citizenship in 1917 by act of Congress when the Virgin Islands were purchased from Denmark by the United States government. Kay is survived by her two sons, Rodger and Terry Burris, 6 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, and a sister, Amy Toschick. She was preceded in death by her husband, Manning Burris. Long time residents of Phoenix, AZ, Kay and Manning moved to Walla Walla, WA in June, 1990 to a retirement residence close to their oldest son. After Manning's death, Kay moved back to the Gold Canyon area in November, 2000 to be near her two sons who live in Gold Canyon. After high school in Hayden, AZ, she was a telephone operator with Mountain States Tel. & Tel. in downtown Phoenix until the arrival of their first son, and later again when her boys were in high school. But to her family and friends, she was best known as a most generous, kind, and loving mom, grandmother, and friend. All the kids in the neighborhood called her "Auntie Kay", and still do. She loved children and especially babies and supported charities that help them. If you planned to send flowers, Kay has requested that money for flowers be sent to an organization that helps children. If you would like, you may send a donation in memory of Kay Burris to the St. Andrews Children's Clinic Endowment Fund, Santa Cruz Community Foundation, P.O. Box 6286, Nogales, AZ 85628. Published in the Arizona Republic on 4/4/2004.