Tony was born on August 7, 1948, in Fajã dos Vimes, São Jorge, Azores, to João Morais and Maria Diolinda Sousa. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend who will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
From a young age, Tony worked alongside his father and brothers on the family farm, tending crops, raising animals, dairy farming, and making cheese. His father founded a cheese factory in Loural, where Tony worked and carried milk. The family spent summers in Loural and winters in Fajã dos Vimes, and Tony worked every day, learning the values of hard work and devotion to the land that would guide him for the rest of his life. He loved to talk about those long days and shared stories from his childhood on the island.
On January 26, 1967, at just 18 years old, Tony immigrated to America with his mother and his brother Manuel. He found work in Manteca with Frank Teicheira & Son Dairy and in October 1967, he joined Manuel and their cousin Eddie Morris to start their own dairy partnership on Young Road in Modesto. After a little over two years, Tony and Manuel took their share of the herd and began renting property on Vivian Road. In September 1973, after three years of renting, the brothers purchased the 53-acre Vivian Road property from the Nunes family for $73,000, where they operated the Morris Brothers Dairy.
In November 1973, Tony married Delfina Azevedo, and together they built a loving life and raised five daughters: Laurie, Stephanie, Diana, Michelle, and Nancy.
In 1987, Tony and Manuel ended their partnership to run their own dairies, and Tony continued operating at the Vivian Road facility. In 1989, he began shipping to Hilmar Cheese Company, a relationship that continued ever since. Over the years he steadily expanded his dairy and acquired additional farmland.
Tony was deeply proud of his Portuguese heritage. In 1983, he began bringing his pair of oxen to the Bodo de Leite at Portuguese festas throughout the Valley. In 1987, he served as president of the Festa do Divino Espírito Santo in Patterson, where he was the first to introduce the Bodo de Leite, and in 1996, he served as president of the Modesto Portuguese Pentecost Association. He was a founder of the California Oxen Association and was active in the Festa de Santo Antão. Each year, Tony proudly hosted the Festa de Nossa Senhora do Livramento at his dairy, welcoming family, friends, and the community to celebrate together. He also competed in oxen pulls at the Stanislaus County Fair, and in 2015, Tony and his oxen even appeared on film in Dead of Winter: The Donner Party, shot in Reno.
Tony loved traveling to festas and leading his oxen and cart in the Bodo de Leite parades, and he never missed a chance to show them off. He had a giving heart and a great sense of humor. Through the Festa de Santo Antão, he gave generously to people in need who were facing illness. He enjoyed the bullfights, a good glass of wine, and his weekly game of sueca at the Red Barn.
He was a familiar face at the Log Cabin, where he loved meeting new people, young and old. Each year he returned to the Azores, where he reunited with longtime friends who traveled from near and far. Above all, he treasured time spent with family and friends. Tony was a member of St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Modesto and Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Turlock.
Tony is survived by his beloved wife, Delfina Morris; his daughters, Laurie (Clarence) Oliveira and their children, Kate, Reese, Anthony, and Chase Oliveira; Stephanie (Michael) Ralls and their children, Rena, Morrisa, and Madelyn Ralls; Diana Morris; Michelle (Chris) Silva and their children, Ava, Liam, and Joaquim Silva; and Nancy (Johnnie) Azevedo and their children, Jack, George, Henry, Maria, Rose, and Caroline Azevedo; as well as his sister, Maria Idalina Borba. He is also survived by his godchildren, nieces and nephews, extended family, and many dear friends.
Tony was preceded in death by his parents, João Morais and Maria Diolinda Sousa ; his brothers, Manuel Jorge Morris and Leonel Morais; and his infant sister, Lubelia Morais.
A Recitation of the Rosary will be held on Monday, October 5, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 1200 Lyons Avenue, Turlock, California 95380.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 1200 Lyons Avenue, Turlock, California 95380. Committal Service to follow at Lakewood Memorial Park, 900 Santa Fe Avenue, Hughson, California 95326.
May Tony rest peacefully in the loving arms of the Lord, surrounded by His eternal grace and everlasting peace.
Antonio “Tony” Morais de 78 anos, faleceu serenamente no dia 23 de setembro de 2026, na sua residência em Modesto, Califórnia onde viveu durante os últimos 59 anos.
O Senhor Morais nasceu na Fajã dos Vimes, ilha de São Jorge, Açores, filho de João Morais e Maria Diolinda Sousa. Foi um dedicado marido, pai, avô, irmão e amigo. A sua ausência será profundamente sentida por todos aqueles que tiveram o privilégio de o conhecer e amar.
Deixa de luto a sua amada esposa, Delfina Morais; as suas filhas, Laurie (Clarence) Oliveira e os seus filhos, Kate, Reese, Anthony e Chase Oliveira; Stephanie (Michael) Ralls e os seus filhos, Rena, Morrisa e Madelyn Ralls; Diana Morais; Michelle (Chris) Silva e os seus filhos, Ava, Liam e Joaquim Silva; e Nancy (Johnnie) Azevedo e os seus filhos, Jack, George, Henry, Maria, Rose e Caroline Azevedo; assim como a sua irmã, Maria Idalina Borba. Deixa também os seus afilhados, sobrinhos e sobrinhas, familiares e muitos amigos queridos.
Foi precedido na morte pelos seus pais, João Morais e Maria Diolinda Sousa; pelos seus irmãos, Manuel Jorge Morais e Leonel Morais; e pela sua irmãzinha Lubelia Morais, falecida ainda bebé.
O Senhor Morais era membro da Igreja Católica de St. Stanislaus, em Modesto, e da Igreja Católica do Sagrado Coração, em Turlock.
A Recitação do Terço será realizada na segunda-feira, dia 5 de outubro de 2026, às 7:30 da noite, na Igreja Católica do Sagrado Coração, 1200 Lyons Avenue, Turlock, Califórnia 95380.
A Missa do corpo presente será celebrada na terça-feira, dia 6 de outubro de 2026, às 10:00 da manhã, na Igreja Católica do Sagrado Coração, 1200 Lyons Avenue, Turlock, Califórnia 95380, seguindo-se o Serviço de Sepultura no Cemitério Lakewood Memorial Park, 900 Santa Fe Avenue, Hughson, Califórnia 95326.
Que o Senhor Morais descanse em paz.
