Mary Carmen Morales

How does one say goodbye to a mother, a wife, a grand and great grandmother, and a friend?

Mary Carmen Morales was born in Los Angeles to Francisco and Jesus Ulloa, raised in the southern California desert town of Brawley and passed into heaven on New Year’s Day 2016 in Tustin, California.  She was the middle sister to Walter and Ferdinand Ulloa, both now deceased, and worked hard to fill the demanding role of female in a first generation Mexican American family.  This experience would shape her personality for life.  Determined and strong willed, a bulldozer and a survivor, Mary would have her say, unfiltered and direct, but honest.   Most of her life was spent in Fullerton, California where, together with the love of her life Ralph Morales, she raised five children while also caring for her invalid mother.  As such, Mary had little time for hobbies, leisure activities or even herself.   She fully dedicated herself to her family’s wellbeing.  This dedication would define her until her last breath.

Still, Mary managed to enjoy life.  Nothing pleased her more than cooking a Mexican meal for family and friends while laughing at the jokes shared among those at table.  In the kitchen, with the help of her daughters, she could take simple ingredients and magically combine them into a tasty meal.  In Mary’s youth she won the title of “Miss Brawley” and, although her father’s connections in town might have helped, those who knew her saw that wonderful smile appear bright and often.  When her children left the home and her husband retired, Ralph and Mary moved to Huntington Beach, later to Hemet and then back again to Orange County.  The ocean breeze and proximity to her children and grandchildren were important to her.  Finally, in Mary’s later years, she could take time for herself.  This included visiting family and friends, doing word search puzzles and taking drives along the coast from Dana Point to Long Beach with her husband Ralph while stopping occasionally to eat seafood (shrimp, of course) or just to enjoy looking at the sea.

Mary’s last words, of course, were about the wellbeing of her children.  Hearing the answer that reassured her, she peacefully and forever fell asleep.  Even at 92 years old life can seem too short.  This is how we say goodbye to Mary Carmen Morales; our mother, grand and great grandmother, and the love our father’s life.

Mary is survived by her five children: Ralph, Patricia (husband Paul), Frank, Cecilia, and Richard (wife Agnes), her five grandchildren: Jeff, Nichole (husband Rob), Devin, Crisann, and Joseph, and her two great granddaughters: Alexia and Alyvia.

It was Mary’s wish to be cremated with a simple service attended by immediate family.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations made to Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County (link; http://feedoc.org/).

Entrusted to the care of Cremation Society of Orange Coast (800) 678-0669