Tomas (Tom) Morales Jr.

Tomas (Tom) Morales, Jr., age 92, passed away peacefully at his home in Wattenberg on November 7, 2020.

He was born on June 18, 1928, in Snyder, CO, the eldest of ten children to Tomas Morales, Sr. and Victoria Chavez. The family lived for a brief time in the Baker neighborhood of Denver before settling in Weld County and Wattenberg. A lifelong Catholic, Tom was a parishioner of St. Cajetan, St. Augustine, Our Lady of Grace, and St. Williams Catholic Churches.

Tom attended the Wattenberg School through the 8th grade. Being the eldest boy, he wasn’t able to attend school on a regular basis as he was working to help support the family. He did so with honor and gratitude. This afforded his siblings the opportunities to remain in school and further their educations. Friendly and amiable, he had many friends in the Wattenberg, Fort Lupton, and Brighton areas, and was affectionately known by the name “Tomato”. He met the love of his life, Ermalina (Emer) Tenorio, in Brighton in 1952. She waited for him while served his country as a PFC in the Army. He enjoyed being stationed in Germany and taking trips to Austria, Italy, and Spain where he acted as an interpreter. Upon his return they married on January 12, 1957. They experienced 60 years of marriage, bickering, happiness, friendship, and unconditional love. They had many friends with whom they had wonderful gatherings, dancing and singing.

Tom worked as a construction laborer, building apartment buildings in Arvada. He was employed as a Head Custodian in the Brighton 27-J School District and retired after many years of service. His hobbies included restoring classic cars, tending to his garden, taking care of the home and yard, and helping babysit his grandchildren. Tom and Emer were great bargain hunters, finding treasures at garage and yard sales. He was considered a surrogate father by his siblings and by many friends in Wattenberg.  

Tom is survived by his daughter, Joanne (Mike) Stevens, and son, Thomas E. (Angie) Morales; grandsons Nate and Matt (Shannon) Stevens, and Tommy Morales, and granddaughter, Alyssa Morales; great-grandson Logan; brothers, Cayetano/Donald (Elsie) Morales, Joey (Jimmie) Morales, Jesse (Lydia) Morales, Raymond (Delphie) Morales, and John (Louise) Morales; sisters, Bennie (Art) Jaramillo and Stephie (Dave) Archuleta-Gutierrez; sister-in-law Dororthy (Robert) Garcia, brothers-in law Manuel (Virginia) Tenorio, Bob (Priscilla Tenorio), Fred (Naomi) Tenorio; and special friends, Patty Hunziker, Tommy DeHerrera, Memo Torres, and Rogelio Pliego. Tom is also survived by numerous loving nieces, nephews, and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, wife, sister Emma Jaramillo, brother Jimmy Morales, and sisters-in-law Josie Bueno, Prax Sisneros, Carmen Lopez, and Jenny Baca.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to a charity of your choice in Tom’s honor.

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