SANTIAGO TAMAYO

1931 - 2022

SANTIAGO JIMMY TAMAYO

Oct. 26, 1931 Aug. 8, 2022

Santiago "Jimmy" Tamayo, 90, passed away surrounded by his family on August 8, 2022. Jimmy was the fifth oldest of 19 children. He was born to Santiago and Francisca Tamayo on October 26, 1931, in El Centro, CA.

He grew up working on the family farm and learned a lot about agriculture, irrigation, machinery and construction. He was amazing with numbers and calculations. He had the most generous heart and would help anyone in need. He liked to laugh and was liked by everyone. He was married to the love of his life for 52 years. They had two amazing children and welcomed a wonderful daughter-in-law and grandson.

In 1953, he was drafted by the United States Army, during the Korean war. He was stationed in Germany and received many awards. He worked numerous jobs before working and retiring from the Imperial County Public Works Department as an Equipment Operator. He was a very hard and dedicated worker, who his supervisors could always depend on performing his duties correctly and on time and without direction or supervision.

He loved his family very much and would do anything for them. He liked working with his hands, working around the house, working on his lawn and garden. He was very creative on how to make anything work more efficiently. He liked the Dodgers, baking cookies, working on his cars, building structures, and playing with his dog and cats. He will be missed dearly by his loved ones and everyone who knew him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Santiago and Francisca Tamayo; brothers, Ralph, Manuel, Frank, Joe, Robert, Ruben, Rudy, Richard, George and Ernie; sister, Mary Silerio-Tamayo.

Santiago is survived by his wife, Helen; son, Jimmy; daughter-in-law, Jackie; grandson, Isaac; daughter, Susan Diane; brothers, Paul, Cris, Gilbert, Johnny and Danny; sisters, Frances Young and Connie Venegas; numerous nephews and nieces.

Visitation will be held on September 21, 2022 at 6 pm at Hems Brother's Mortuary in El Centro. Rosary will begin at 7 pm. Mass will be held on September 22, 2022 at 9 am at St. Mary's Parish in El Centro. Officiated by Deacon Domingo Enriquez. Burial to follow at Evergreen Cemetery in El Centro.