Joe "Kookie" Ramirez Morales of Dudleyville, passed away on Saturday, November 23, 2019 at the age of 77.

Kookie was born in Ray, Arizona to Joe and Rita Morales on August 5, 1942. He graduated from Hayden High School in 1960 then attended EAC in Thatcher. He was drafted into the Army in 1964 but was unable to serve due to a shooting accident which lead him to lose his right eye. In June 1966, he completed a vocational course at Phoenix Union School for a Machinist. He was then employed by Kennecott, which later became ASARCO. He worked for 38 years as a Filter Plant Operator at the Hayden Concentrator. Along with his hard work, he also volunteered as a firefighter for Dudleyville Fire Department for many years.

On November 26, 1966 Kookie married the love of his life, Jennie Aguirre. They were together for 50 years. They had three children for whom he would do absolutely anything for. He was a family man. Kookie enjoyed many vacations and outdoor activities such as camping, hunting, fishing, horseback riding, jeep rides, picnics and more. He loved being active and the outdoors. He also enjoyed drawing cartoons of real-life family and everyday life adventures. His cartoons will forever entertain his children grandchildren, family and friends.

Kookie was preceded in death by his parents Joe and Rita Morales, his father-in-law Alfredo Aguirre and his loving wife Jennie. He is survived by his daughter Barbara (Martin) Peraza, Joe (Patricia) and Michael (Felicia) Morales, his grandchildren Christopher, Patrick, Antonio (Eleni), Giovanni, Daniella, Brina, and Joseph, and his great-grandchildren LeiAnna, Angelina and Emilio. He is also survived by his Tia Romula Placencia, his brothers Felix (Olivia), Bobby, and sisters Evie Estrada, Carol Burnam and Rosalie as well as several nieces, nephews, and godchildren.

He was a very kind and special man who will be missed and remembered by many.