Simeon "Sam" C. Cajilig Jr.

Simeon (Sam) passed away unexpectedly at Mountain Point Medical Center (Lehi, Utah) on February 1, 2022 due to heart failure. He was 87 years old.

Sam was born in Leon, Iloilo, Philippines on December 13, 1934, to Simeon Sr. and Concordia Cajilig. He was their only child. Him and his wife Perla arrived in the United States on January 25, 2007 and has lived in Lehi, Utah and Carson, California for the past 15 years.

He went to St. Catherine Catholic School in Leon, Iloilo, Philippines. He was a popular teenager in his town being the first teenager to own a car. During that time, he enjoyed travelling in the neighboring towns and attended its dances. His father had a sound system business that provides music and sound for these dances. Him and his group of friends really enjoyed their time helping his Dad do the set up. This developed in him a love for electrical work which led him to study Electrical Engineering at the Mapua Institute of Technology in Manila. He later graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering at the same school.

He worked for a power plant in Guimaras Island, Iloilo, Philippines as his first job. To travel to the island, you need to go through a street named Ortiz Street and ride a small motor sailboat. It was during one of those travel that he spotted the love of his life, Perla Rubin. Perla Rubin and her family lived in Ortiz Street. He eventually won her heart despite Perla being heavily guarded by four older brothers and not to mention her dad. They had a big wedding on July 29, 1961 and were blessed with six children, Madeline, Mary Ann, Gregory, Gerry Anthony, Stephen and Simeon III.

During his early married life, he moved his family to Manila and worked for several construction companies there. He eventually moved his family back to Iloilo City where he continued to be in construction business and engaged in entrepreneurial businesses.

With a growing family and financially in need, in 1982, he applied for work abroad as an Electrical Engineer and became an Overseas Contract Worker (OFW). He continued his engineering career in Saudi Arabia that became his pride and family's pride in the years that followed. With his construction experience, work ethic and management skills, he became the Head Engineer in the King Khalid Air Base in Khamis Mushayt, Saudi Arabia. It is an airbase by the Royal Saudi Air Force, Saudi Arabia. He reports directly to the officer (under the King) that oversees construction work in the airbase. All contractors in the airbase reports to him and would not get paid until he signs off on it (he bragged about it in all his stories). He was a trusted and loyal employee and his employer really valued him from the start.

Sam was a fashionista. He always liked to dress up in a button up shirt, a suit and tie, leather shoes and carried an attaché case whenever he travelled. He always liked to look professional. He liked his hair short and be clean shaven. He never owned a pair of jeans in his life. One of the things he enjoyed was to have tailored made suits exclusively for him in the Philippines.

During his time in Saudi Arabia, he not only was he able to finally support his family but also helped several relatives find a job in Saudi Arabia. He was very giving to his friends and extended family that

needed help financially. His time in Saudi Arabia got cut short when the First Gulf War happened in 1990. He eventually retired and settled in Leon, Iloilo, his birth place and became a farmer.

He built a modest home in the farm and there started his pig farming business and grew other crops. He also did some construction business on the side. While at the farm, him and his wife Perla tended to both their mothers who lived to be 89 and 99 years old respectively.

In 2007, both migrated to the United States to spend time with their three children and grandchildren who now lived there. Him and his wife Perla enjoyed the family get togethers, spending time with family & friends during the holidays, occasional travel to casinos and visited other places. He was an avid lotto player and always get excited to check on his winning nos.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Perla; six children & their spouses, Madeline (Daughter) & Nathaniel, Mary Ann (Daughter) & Arthur, Gregory (Son) & Ana Lou, Gerry Anthony (Son) & Anna Lissa, Stephen (Son) & Malyn, Simeon III (Son) & Fermina; fourteen grandchildren, Nathan Jr., Fritz (Grandson) & Peeps, John, Matthew, Camille (Granddaughter) & Ben, Micah, Candace, Vitany, Greg, Steneilyn, Diane, Shannen, Therese and Vincent.

A funeral mass will be held in his honor on February 5, 2022 at 11:00 AM in the St Peter's Catholic Church, 634 Caveman Blvd, American Fork, Utah.

He will be cremated on February 8, 2022 at 9 AM at Wing Mortuary and his remains will be later buried in the Philippines next to his parents.