COVID-19 took a Palmetto man’s life. But not before he graced many others

As of July 30, more than 150,000 American lives have been cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

The Florida Department of Health reports that more than 6,500 of them lived in Florida. Of those, 176 were Manatee County residents.

One of them lived in Palmetto. His name was Ramon Morales.

Morales died at age 64 of complications from a COVID-19 infection last week. He worked 80 hours a week at two full-time jobs to support his family, including his wife, six children and 22 grandchildren as well as his mother and siblings in Durango, Mexico.

One figure that will be forever unknown is the number of lives that Morales touched while he was here. By the estimate of those who knew him, it was enormous.

Family, friends and co-workers gathered in the front yard of a Palmetto home on Thursday to honor his memory.

They knew Morales in different roles, from high school custodian, to restaurant host, to loving husband, father and grandfather. But the common thread, in all of their experiences, was the kindheartedness that flowed from the man wherever he was.

“He lived to see everybody happy,” said Monica Morales, Ramon’s eldest daughter. “He would only see the positive in people. A person could come to him with a negative spirit, and he would pray for them.”

Jay Butler, who worked with Morales on the custodial staff at Manatee High School, described him as hard-working, funny and a fantastic person.

“He was a giver. At school, if he saw kids that didn’t have enough money for something — boom, boom boom,” Butler said, motioning a cascade of dollar bills. “I think he made money to give away.”

And if Morales saw a student who looked lonely or isolated, Butler said, he would buy them a bag of chips and offer some kind words.

Both men worked long, hot days together this summer. Both men contracted COVID-19 around the same time. But Butler recovered, while Morales became progressively sicker and eventually required hospitalization. Underlying kidney issues may have made the virus worse for him.

On Thursday, Butler told Ramon’s family members how much he talked about them at work — especially the grandkids.

Belinda Coney, a pastor and lifelong friend of the Morales family, said she felt that Morales was “an angel sent by God.”

One of Morales’ co-workers at Applebee’s Grill & Bar in Ellenton also compared him to an angel. “You could be having the worst day in the world and just walk into Applebee’s and see that smile,” the co-worker said. “There was no other smile like it. He was one of the most selfless people I ever met.”

Coney will conduct Ramon’s funeral services on Saturday. At Thursday’s memorial, she offered a blessing as those gathered held candles lit in Ramon’s honor.

“Ramon was a joyful man,” Coney said. “He wouldn’t want us to be sad. He would want us to be rejoicing.”

His daughter Ada Morales nodded in agreement.

“My dad was a real friend,” Ada said. “He was the biggest and best supporter anybody could meet. He looked forward to the children at Manatee and he looked forward to the customers at Applebee’s. Hearing all the good stories about my dad, it touched us.”

The ceremony came to a close with a release of balloons as the laughter of Morales’ grandchildren filled the air.

As hard as he worked, Morales didn’t have much downtime. When he did find some he would occasionally go fishing, according to Monica Morales, but he mostly spent it with his grandchildren. During the memorial, his grandchildren recalled days spent playing and learning to cook with Morales; it was where they all wanted to go on the weekend, Monica said.

There was plenty of kindness for other kids, too.

“If the ice cream man comes through the neighborhood, he’s buying every child out there something,” Monica said. “And don’t put a price tag on it.”

His oldest daughter said that she hopes to continue sharing his good spirit.

Manatee remembers Morales

Thursday’s candlelight vigil was not the first outpouring of grief and appreciation for Morales.

On Tuesday, the commencement ceremony for the 2020 graduating class of Manatee High School was opened with a remembrance of the custodian of 15 years. Students and faculty stood for a moment of silence on the football field in Hawkins Stadium, which Morales tended and carefully painted during his time there.

And it won’t be the last.

A pancake breakfast and celebration of Morales’ life is planned for 7 to 10 a.m. Saturday at Applebee’s. It is also the day that Morales would have turned 65. Admission is $7 and will support Morales’ family. Donations are also being accepted through a GoFundMe campaign sponsored by Neighborhood Restaurant Partners, which has so far raised more than $11,000 to support the Morales family through the loss.

Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Westside Funeral Home, 204 Seventh St. W., Palmetto. Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at 13th Ave Dream Center, 922 24th St. E., Bradenton.