Audrey Irene Burge

Audrey Irene Burge, of Corpus Christi, Texas passed away on Friday, June 16, 2023.

Audrey Irene Lambert Berry Burge was born in Rochester, Minnesota on September 21, 1924, to Ira Raymond Lambert & Olive Lucille Bernard Lambert. She and her younger brother (Lloyd Carlton Lambert) and sister (Lucy Lambert) grew up on a farm near Chatfield, Minnesota. She graduated from Chatfield High School, then did 1-year Postgraduate studies at the High School. Audrey worked at the Minnesota State Mental Hospital in Rochester for one summer. She then went to Community Hospital at Chatfield as a nurse’s aide. When the doctor was drafted during World War II, the hospital was forced to close. In 1944, one of Audrey’s best friends heard about job opportunities in Texas and that is how she made it to Corpus Christi.

Soon, she went to work at Spohn Hospital as nurse’s aide in surgery & various other departments. After a motorcycle accident, she met Blondell “Jack” Merlin Berry and were married on November 9, 1945, and she was able to stop working. On June 28, 1946, they had their only child together Barbara Lynn (Berry) Carpenter. After Jack’s death from a boating accident on October 17, 1948, she went back home to Minnesota for a few months. Audrey came back to Corpus Christi and went back to work at Spohn Hospital again. On April 7, 1950, she married Hurshel “Bill” Billy Burge, and she was able to stop working. They had their son, Douglas Ross Burge, on December 25, 1955. Bill and Audrey enjoyed traveling around the United States, and they got a cabin on Lake Medina outside of Bandera, Texas where they spent a lot of their time. Bill worked at Reynolds Metal for over 25 years. He passed away on September 4, 1986, and that fall she signed up to volunteer at Spohn Hospital. At first, she volunteered in the surgery scheduling office, then went to operations where she liked to work in the backroom. Most of the time she worked Monday, Tuesday, and sometimes on Wednesday well into her 90’s. She raised her youngest granddaughter, Kadie.

Audrey was a Volunteer at Christus Spohn Hospital Shoreline for over 35 years, Past Madam President of the Ladies Auxiliary Fraternal Order of Eagles #2249 that merged with Aransas Pass #162, member of the Robstown Chapter #540 Order of the Eastern Star, member of the local AARP #3270, charter member of Lakeshore Volunteer Fire Department, and a member of the Spohn Hospital Auxiliary. Audrey was a devout Presbyterian and very involved with the church. She was a member of the Woodlawn Presbyterian Church and Elder United until it closed, then she joined the Jackson Woods Presbyterian Church.

Audrey was not much of a TV watcher, but when she did, it was for news and game shows. She liked to read, do crosswords, puzzles, and bird watch. Her son Douglas lived with her. Her favorite movies were Giant, Gone with the Wind, and Indian Love Call.

Audrey is survived by daughter, Barbara Lynn Carpenter; son Douglas Ross Burge; grandson John Berry Stein; granddaughters Latricia Gail (Stein) Smith and spouse Shawn Clayton Smith, Julie Lynn Carpenter and spouse Douglas Edd Ward, and Kadie Lee-Ann (Burge) Layton and spouse Joshua Lee Layton; step granddaughter Sherri Lynn Shinn, and great-grandson Douglas Edd Ward, Jr.

On Thursday, June 29, 2023, there will be a viewing from 4:00-8:00 pm at the Sawyer-George Funeral Home at 12497 Leopard St., Corpus Christi, TX 78410. On Friday, June 30, 2023, there will be a service at 2:00 pm at Sawyer-George Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make a donation to Jackson Woods Presbyterian Church at 10500 Stonewall Blvd, Corpus Christi, TX 78410 or the Gulf Coast Humane Society at 3118 Cabaniss Rd, Corpus Christi, TX 78415.