El Dorado Correctional Facility employee dies of COVID-19 complications

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - The El Dorado Correctional Facility said on Wednesday that one of its employees died due to complications of COVID-19.

The correctional facility said Unit Team Supervisor Gabe Morales began his career with the Kansas Department of Corrections at the Winfield Correctional Facility in May 2014 as a Corrections Counselor I. In July 2015 he accepted a promotion to Program Provider at the El Dorado Correctional, a position he held until November 1, 2020, when he was promoted to Unit Team Supervisor.

“Gabe was a wonderful asset to the department and to the residents that participated in his programs,” said ECF. “Please keep Gabe’s family, friends, and co-workers in your thoughts and prayers.”

Part of Morales’s role included preparing inmates for life after their sentence was up.

One of the ways he did that was by partnering with Youth Entrepreneurs to offer a business and life-skills course at the prison. YE provided the following statement to Eyewitness News:

Morales’ wife, Ruth Morales, said the word “involved was one of the best ways to describe her husband, especially when it came to their two children.

“He was at all of their sports stuff and loved it,” Ruth said. “if he (had) a weekend off (with) no sports, he was upset because he was always wanting to do something with the kids.”

Whether it be football, softball, or wrestling, Morales’ goal was to help his son, his daughter, and other young athletes succeed.

“He’s coached (our son) his entire life, from kindergarten on,” Ruth said.

She said what will be missed most is the presence Gabe Morales had whenever he was in the room.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment currently lists the El Dorado Correctional Facility as a COVID-19 cluster site with 50 new cases over the last 14 days.

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