MORRILTON — Ira Don Cahill,

82, of Morrilton, Ark., passed away at Conway Baptist Medical Center on November 25, 2023.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, Ira Dave Cahill and Jean Stell Cahill.

He is survived by his wife, Brenda Peacock Cahill; two sons, David (Leslie), Doug (Amy); nine grandchildren, Drew, Tyler (Lauren), Will, Collin (Marisa), Emma (Thomas), Carson, Ruth (Fletcher), James, Sophie; and two great-grandchildren, Briggs Cahill and Alexandria Cahill.

Don was born on July 22, 1941, in Jonesboro, Ark.. While attending Pine Bluff High School and Arkansas State Teachers College, Don excelled at basketball and still holds a record at PBHS. Following college, Don returned to Pine Bluff and worked for Nabisco until his retirement in 1995.

Throughout his years, Don devoted his extra time to working with young people in sports, hunting and fishing. He especially enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren in the outdoors, exemplifying a great love and respect of nature and conservation.

In 1975, Don began handcrafting the Chick Major-Don Cahill Dixie Mallard duck call, continuing the legacy started by Chick Major in 1939. Don, widely known as “Daddy Don,” influenced many adults in the duck hunting world but was happiest when introducing children to the art of duck calling.

Visitation will be Friday, December 1, 2023, from 9-10 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Morrilton, Ark., followed by services at 10 a.m. The interment will be held at Memorial Park Cemetery in White Hall, Ark., at 2:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Chick & Sophie Major Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Lee Hartz, 4115 Lochridge Rd., North Little Rock, Ark. 72116. Online guestbook: www.harrisfuneralhomes.net