Donald Lee Cahoone

Donald Lee Cahoone, 81, of Little Rock, was called home by his heavenly Father on December 4, 2014. He was born on April 2, 1933 in Cottonwood Falls, Kansas. He was the son of Sidney June and Anna Belle Cahoone of Kansas. He was preceded in death by his first wife of 33 years, Alice Galentine; two brothers, Sidney Cahoone and Riley Cahoone, and his sisters Elrine Cahoone and Virginia Cooper. He is survived by his second wife of 25 years, Betty Cahoone; his sisters Juanita Starkey and Laura Searcy; children Rebecca (Ronnie) Hallet, Sonja (Jim) Durrwachter, Darla (Jeff) Embry, Donald Joseph (Patty) Cahoone, and Sally (Paul) Brown. He is also survived by fourteen grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Don graduated from Cottonwood Falls High School in 1950. At the age of 17, he joined the Navy and served during the Korean War in Trinidad. After the war, Don used the GI bill to attend college at Kansas State where he earned a degree in Civil Engineering. While a student, he married his first wife, Alice, and started his family. Don took the family to Arkansas following graduation and began his career as a Civil Engineer with the Arkansas Highway Department, where he worked for 17 years culminating in serving as District Engineer. Don then began working for McGeorge Contracting as Superintendent for the next 20 years. Following retirement, he was elected President of the Arkansas State Highway Retirees. Don's love of traveling led him and Betty to travel to such places as Hawaii, Alaska, Canada and all points in between. His hobbies included boating on Greers Ferry, following the Razorbacks, gardening, being Santa's helper, and woodworking. He built a cabin with the help of his children on the shores of Greer's Ferry Lake. He was an avid gardener, with a large vegetable garden and a beautifully landscaped yard. Don was a devoted member of Primrose United Methodist Church and was a leader in the Church for many years. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today (Saturday) at Primrose United Methodist Church, 3006 W. Dixon Road, Little Rock, Ark. 72206 with Rev. Melvin Moss officiating. Interment with Military Honors will follow in Primrose Cemetery. To sign the online guestbook, go to www.griffinleggetthealeyroth.com.