It is with great sadness that the family of Soeur Som announces his passing after his battle with COVID-19, on Thursday, July 23, 2020, in Pensacola, Florida. Soeur will forever be remembered by his beloved wife of forty-two years, Eng Chea Som; his son, Visal Som (Lisa Som); his daughters, Sovantara Som Tabago (Fred Tabago) and Frieda Som Davis (Travis Davis); his grandchildren, Ethan Tabago, Travis Davis Jr., Aiden Tabago, Abigail Davis, Gavin Tabago, Jordan Davis, and Addison Som.

Soeur was born in Cambodia on August 6, 1949. He was a devoted Buddist and joined the Buddist monastery for over 6 years during his twenties in the pursuit of happiness. In 1978 he met and married his beloved wife. In 1979, he and his pregnant wife fled Cambodia into a Thailand refugee camp to escape the brutal genocide by the Khmer Rouge. After a couple of years in Thailand, he and his family, now a family of four, was accepted to the United States as refugees landing in 1982 with only the clothes on his back and pictures of the memories and family left behind in Cambodia. For the next thirty-eight years he called Pensacola, Florida and the United States of America home. He became a United States citizen in 1992 and he learned to adopt, love, and blend the American culture with his Cambodian heritage.

Soeur was one of the most loved persons on earth. There are so many good words and stories that could be used to define him and the way he lived his life every single day. His kindness, generosity, thoughtfulness, gentle soul, compassion, selflessness, hard work, and contagious smile touched and raised the spirits of so many people along his path. He gave everything he had to help others never thinking of himself. It was always from his heart and never for any recognition or anything in return. He loved his family and he sacrificed his entire lifetime to his children so that they had the opportunity to be successful in life and most importantly becoming good people. The world has lost a great person.

No service will be held at this time. Plans remain open for a celebration of life on a later date for all family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, please continue his legacy by living your life with kindness, selflessness, compassion towards other and never forget to smile as he did every single day.  The world needs more of this.

Our family would like to thank all our extended family and friends for their prayers, love, support, and generosity during this time of grief.

Love,

The Som Family