Elvira Morales June 11, 1954 - May 8, 2022

June 1954 ~ May 2022

Elvira Morales was born in Texas on June 11, 1954, to Eva Olguin and Gonzalo Ramirez. At six years old, her family moved to Patterson, CA. Vera spent her teen years between Patterson and Mexico. In 1981, Vera moved to Newman, CA, where she remained until her death on May 8, 2022. 

Vera was a courageous, independent woman and a bit of a bad-ass! As a young adult, she owned a Thunderbird with racing tires! She would repeatedly change her tires by herself, but only when she needed to drive down to Mexico to pick up family and friends. Which, according to her, was quite often. 

When Vera was 27 and nine months pregnant with four small children, she built her own house in Newman, which she stayed in for over 40 years. Vera was a Jack-of-all-trades, and she could repair almost anything in our home.

Vera was tough and determined. She was a young single mother of five kids and often played the part of both parents. She walked her kids down the aisle, stood in for the father-daughter dance, scared off neighborhood bullies, and made ends meet at a time and place when it was uncommon for women to be so independent.

She went on to become a leader in her church. She led missionaries with El Pastor Christian Church for many years, held Bible studies in our neighbor’s garage, and could recite any Bible verse from memory. 

For many years, Vera worked at Dupuy Orthotech, where she specialized in making rehabilitative and protective braces. She also was a seasonal machinist for Morning Star. 

She was crafty and artistic. She did woodwork, and her wishing wells were sold all over town and decorated our front and back yards. She loved to paint using acrylics on canvas. She created paintings for us with personalized messages. She also enjoyed painting ceramics. She loved gardening and making flower arrangements with the flowers she picked from her garden. 

Anyone who knew Vera knew that she was a fantastic cook, “Nobody makes breakfast like Grandma”, and we will forever be trying to replicate her handmade flour tortillas. She loved baking, playing card and board games, and was a bit of a pool shark in her day. She loved to scratch lotto tickets and could not go to sleep without playing her casino apps. But most of all, she LOVED spending time with her grandkids. From weekends at Grandma’s, lots of sleepovers, arts and crafts, and rides to school to helping raise a few. 

Vera leaves behind her four children Rosa Gallardo, Delicia Resendis, Hilario Morales, and Emily Morales, best friend and sister Frances Kirshner, 15 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren who will miss her dearly. She is preceded in death by her parents, her son Nicasio Alcala, and her grandson Xavier Morales. 

The funeral will begin at Allen Mortuary in Turlock on Monday, May 23. The viewing will start at 8:30 a.m. and will be followed by the service at 10:00 a.m. The burial will take place at Hills Ferry Cemetery in Newman at 12:30. A casual gathering to celebrate her life will be held at 725 W. Mariposa, Newman, at 3:00 p.m.