John Michael Morales

John Michael Morales, 49, of Corpus Christi, TX, passed away at home, in the arms of his wife, on June 11, 2022, after 5 years of courageously and graciously battling stage IV colorectal cancer.

John was born on August 23, 1972, to Robert Morales and Adelida “Lala” Sanchez in Taft, TX.  John, (aka, No Name), grew up in Aransas Pass, graduating from Aransas Pass High School in 1990. He attended Texas A&I University - Kingsville (Delta Tau Delta Fraternity) and then Del Mar College.

From 1998 to 2006, John was married to Kristi Gilden, with whom he had two beautiful children, Camryn and Reed Morales. He will always be remembered as a fun, loving and devoted dad, who would do anything for his children. Particularly, during the “offshore” years, he would drive hundreds of miles to visit and spend time with them, being near and with them was most important to him.

John worked in construction to support his family and then after training at Del Mar College in Occupational Safety and Health Technology, John worked as an HSE (Health, Safety and Environmental) Manager/Advisor, “offshore”, until his diagnosis, in 2017.  As a “Safety Man,” he was well respected and liked, which is a testament to his character and personality.

John’s interests were varied.  He loved to spend time with his children, playing and loving on his fur babies (Mia, Beau, Peanut and Buddy), fishing, playing disc golf, bicycling with his wife, talking with the birds and squirrels, watching all kinds of sports (soccer had become his favorite – Tottenham Hotspur F.C. or Spurs), reading, visiting Half Price Books, watching movies, talking about, looking at and making art, travelling (Vegas, being a favorite and he loved New York), looking at the night sky, being a marijuana enthusiast, and, of course, listening to music.  John is best known for his sense of humor, his infectious laugh, his beautiful smile that would light up a room, his positive “let’s do it” attitude, and his ability to find joy in just about anything.

In 2016, John “found” his previous art professor, Amorette V. Garza, from the drawing class he had taken at Del Mar College, in 2005.  He had always been interested in art, and it was art and music that led to “finding” her.  Their first date was at KSpace Contemporary Art Gallery, and they dated, for about a year, before a brief “break up.” Then, in August 2017, John was diagnosed with stage IV colorectal cancer.  It was that diagnosis and God that brought them back together.  Amorette knew she had to be with him and that they would get through the diagnosis together.

John underwent chemo, radiation, and surgery, locally, having some success although the side effects could be challenging.  It was also during this time that John decided to go back to school to pursue his longtime interest in art.  In 2019, John and Amorette were married and soon after, Covid hit.  They liked to say that their 2 and a half years of marriage weren’t just regular years, they were Covid years, like dog years, and it only brought them closer.  During that time, the cancer took another shift and John was referred to MD Anderson in Houston, travelling back and forth for trials, treatments, and procedures, all the while, still working diligently toward his Studio Art degree at Del Mar College.  In the summer of 2021, the lung spots had begun to shrink on the trial medication he was on, but then a brain tumor was found.  It was removed successfully, and upon healing, he was placed back on the trial for the lung spots.  It was after that; the trial med would no longer work. He would be on two more trials, but the cancer had taken a turn and was spreading, to the liver, adrenal gland, spine, and new lesions in the brain. Since January 2022, symptoms from the advancing disease really began to develop and weaken him, but he still completed his Studio Art degree, graduating, Cum Laude with a 3.77 GPA.  In May, he was to undergo whole brain radiation with the hope to then go back to traditional treatment for the rest of the cancer, but the burden of the disease had taken its toll and his body would no longer be able to handle any additional aggressive treatments.  John opted for quality of life and hospice at home with his wife and fur babies, after completion of the needed radiation treatment.  At home, he was able to be visited by loved ones and spent some wonderful quality time with his closest family and friends.  As the disease became more debilitating, John never complained, he only grew sweeter and sweeter, just pure love.  Through this all, he became closer to Christ.  He will be forever loved and deeply missed by his family, friends and all who knew him.

John is preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Inez Peña; paternal grandparents, Juan and Guadalupe Morales; and his stepfather, Emilio “Sonny” Sanchez.

John is survived by his wife, Amorette V. Garza-Morales; his two children, Camryn and Reed Morales and their mother, Kristi Gilden, of Austin, TX; his mother, Adelida “Lala” Sanchez, of Corpus Christi (Calallen), TX; his father, Robert Morales and his stepmother, Rosalinda of Aransas Pass, TX; his mother-in-law, whom he also called mom, Manuela Gonzalez, of Corpus Christi, TX; his half-brother, Xavier Carter (Misty) of Rockport, TX; and his “brother from another mother,” best friend since kindergarten, John Dupnik and his wife Geneva, of Austin, TX.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2pm – 4:20pm, Saturday, July 23, at KSpace Contemporary, 623 N. Chaparral St., Corpus Christi, TX, 78401, with tree dedication and gathering/reception to follow, at the Morales’ home, at 6pm.