Andres Rafael Morales
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Andr?s Rafael Morales, 90, of Denton, Texas passed away peacefully at his home on Friday, January 14, 2022, surrounded by loved ones. He was born in Monterrey, Nuevo Le?n, Mexico on November 30, 1931 to Cliserio and In?s Morales.
After obtaining his medical degree from La Escuela Medicina de Nuevo Le?n, Mexico, in 1955, he traveled to St. Joseph's Hospital in Parkersburg, West Virginia for his medical internship, on his way to becoming a thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon. In Parkersburg, he met Jeannette Ann Dyar, a registered nurse, and they married in 1956.
From Parkersburg, he and Jeanne left for Alem?n, Mexico to serve a year of public service as the town doctor and nurse, then on to his Vascular Fellowship at Baylor Hospital in Dallas, Texas. He practiced medicine for forty years at Odessa Medical Center Hospital, serving as Chief of Surgery and Chief of Staff, performing the earliest open-heart surgery in West Texas, and founded and ran the first accredited non-invasive vascular laboratory in the region. Following retirement, Andr?s and Jeanne moved to Granbury, Texas, where they enjoyed the hills covered with cedars and lake view for several years, before settling in Denton, Texas.
He enjoyed travel, music, nature, and sports. He was a life-long Dallas Cowboys and Cincinnati Reds fan, and attended many games with his wife, friends, and family. A devoted family man, he was known for his quiet strength and patience, hard work, a playful sense of humor and appreciation for a good plate of Mexican food. He and Jeanne had a life-long committment to education and were proud of the more than twenty people they helped attain college degrees. One of his hobbies was photography, which he learned from his parents, and shared with his children and grandchildren. He was always the great teacher, ready to pass his knowledge and wisdom at home or work.
He is preceded in death by his parents Cliserio Morales and In?s Morales de Gimenez, and his sister, Beatriz Garcia.
Andr?s is survived by his wife of 65 years, Jeanne, brother-in-law Alonzo Garcia, seven children and spouses: Ana Morales Gillard and Douglas Gillard, Rico Morales, David and Jennifer Morales, Daniel and Dana Morales, Marco and Renee Morales, Mary Angela Morales and Robert and Jennifer Morales, twelve grandchildren, and three great-granchildren, all of whom will miss their Papi greatly.
Though most of his friends proceeded him in death, he continued to make friends his whole life who will also miss him greatly.
A memorial service followed by interment will be held at ten o'clock, Friday morning, the twenty-eight of January at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Odessa, Texas.