Beth Surette Morawski (Burkins), 63, of Oakland, Michigan, passed away on Friday, October 27th. Beth was born on December 31,1959, to William Cole Burkins (deceased) and Rebecca Sue Kerr (Pullen) in Findlay, Ohio.
After Beth graduated from Southwood High School in 1978 she went on to study communications at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. Beth was an outstanding high school orator and excelled on both the state and national levels in high school speech competitions. A Wabash fixture on local radio station WAYT, she continued broadcasting on several Indiana media stations such as WBWB Bloomington, WFBQ Indianapolis and WPFR Terre Haute before launching a career in 1986 as a Senior Marketing Specialist with Carlson Marketing Group in Dayton, Ohio and Detroit, Michigan.
In 1994 Beth met Michael and married in 1996 and for the past 27 years they built a wonderful and adventurous life together.
Our beloved Beth had a passion for everything Fashion and Friendship! She always looked her best and always made time to call or send a note to others. Her love of sports (especially IU basketball), current affairs, playing euchre, 70’s/80’s dance music and love of animals made for much laughter and conversation. Her feline companions, Romeo and Chloe were dear to her and have stayed behind with Pop Pop, but Harley, Cody, and Jake – along with countless purr-friends are on a long walk with her now.
Gigi (Glamorous & Generous), as so many of us called her, earned the nickname honestly. Beth treated her family often with gifts and compliments. Surviving a near fatal car accident in 2011, Beth found great strength in her faith of God and very rarely complained of her physical limitations.
Beth was predeceased by her father, William C. Burkins, stepmother, Katherine Burkins, and brother, Rodney B. Teeter.
She is survived by her devoted husband, Mike, her mother, Rebecca Kerr, stepfather, Mike Kerr, stepdaughter, Jennifer DuBois (Paul), step granddaughter, Ellie, sisters, Amy Sue Burkins (Sam), Meg Ann Hauger (Roger), stepsisters, Lisa Forschey, Amy Norris and stepbrother Gary Lang, nieces Carly A. Carden, Dr. Emily M. Benedict (Nate) and nephew, Jackson A. Badgley (fiancé Ashley), great niece, Skye I. DeBotton and great nephew, Crew C. Carden and many cousins.
A celebration of life will be 11:00 am, Saturday, November 11, 2023 at Grandstaff-Hentgen Funeral Service, 1241 Manchester Avenue, Wabash, with David Phillips officiating.
In lieu of flowers, we ask that a donation be made to: Rainbow Connection 620 W. University Dr. Rochester, MI 48307 Phone: 248-601-9474