Boom truck operator Felix Morales remembered
Felix Morales
Friends say Felix Morales, 52, who was killed last week when the boom truck he was operating fell over onto its side, throwing him from the cab 23 feet onto the deck of the M/V Taylor K below, was a humble man who always worked with a smile on his face. He had large extended family both in Southern California and back home in Mexico City, who loved him greatly. He also had lots of friends and coworkers at Icicle Seafoods in Seward, who will mourn his loss. Icicle held a private Catholic memorial service at the processing plant in his honor on Friday, before the family shipped his body to Mexico for burial. The cause of this workplace death, as is customary, is under investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Morales had been coming up to Icicle Seafoods to work during the fishing season for about 14 years, according to his niece Virginia Figueroa, who lives in Lawndale Calif. Morales was a very happy man who loved life, and loved traveling to Alaska to work, Figueroa said.
He made himself available to help anybody, no matter what their problem was, and had a great sense of humor. On his way to Alaska, he was always excited about returning to his job, and on his way back had plenty of stories to tell his sisters and niece in California about his coworkers and about how the fishing season had gone, Figueroa said. He also leaves behind his wife Rafaela, in Mexico, plus two brothers, and lots of nephews and nieces.
Morales loved music, and was a fitness buff. He exercised a good deal, and read books about healthy living and eating. He avoided taking prescription drugs.
Felix’s’ major wish in life was to have children, but after his wife miscarried twins, he learned that was not possible, which was a great sadness, Figueroa said. But he also was very proud of being a husband to Rafaela.
Just last summer, Morales completed the difficult process of becoming naturalized as an American citizen. Following the naturalization ceremony he was so happy because soon he would be able to bring Rafaela to be in America with him, said his niece. Moralez was still in the process of filling out the petition to do so when he passed, however.
“We’re going to miss him greatly,” Figueroa said. “He’s leaving an empty hole that nobody’s going to be able to fill in, and he leaves behind a lot of people who care about him, and love him.”