Pulaski County
DONALD LEE CAHOONE, 81, of Little Rock, was called home by his heavenly Father on Dec. 4, 2014.
He was born on April 2, 1933, in Cottonwood Falls, Kan. 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 14 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.
––––– ––––– DORIS JEAN DOWNEY, 77, Little Rock, born March 15, 1937, passed away Dec. 5, 2014. She is preceded in death by husband, James Downey; parents, Roy and May Hibbs; and brother, Roy Hibbs Jr.
Doris is survived by children, Scott Michael Strauss, Keith Lynn Strauss, and Edwin N. Strauss Jr.; grandchildren, Matthew Strauss and Brandi Brooks; siblings, Marilyn Langley, David Hibbs, and Norma Brashier. www.arkansasfuneralcare.com.
––––– ––––– VELMA LEE CRUMP HEISKELL peacefully went to be with the Jesus on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014, at the age of 82. She was born Dec. 22, 1931, in England, Ark.
She is survived by her children, Virginia Heiskell Benight, Jimmy Heiskell and Eugene Heiskell (Robin) of Arizona; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; three sisters, Ruthie Dudley (Charles), Effie Moody (David) and Shirley Roscoe (Paul). She was preceded in death by her husband, Delbert Heiskell; parents, Fate and Lettie Crump; three brothers, Lewis, Alton and Homer Crump; and two sisters, Marie Dovers and Vivian Stafford.
Funeral services were held 1 p.m., Friday, Dec. 5, 2014, at the Smith-North Little Rock Funeral Home. Burial in Pinecrest Memorial Park. Online obituary at www.SmithFamilyCares.com.
––––– ––––– On Dec. 2, 2014, 5:10 p.m. The Reverend NOLAN WATSON transitioned from labor to reward. He was born in Hermitage, Ark., Jan. 2, 1939, to Mr. Roosevelt Watson and Ms. Ruth Barber who preceded him in death.
He attended T.W. Daniel High School in Crossett, Ark., where he was valedictorian of the Class of 1957. He recently retired as pastor in the African Methodists Episcopal Church. He pastored St. Andrew, Bethel and Union AME Churches here in Little Rock and several churches in South Arkansas.
Reverend Watson leaves to cherish his memory: wife, Lyndajo Jones-Watson; son, Chanslor “Champ” Watson (Carla); daughter, Gwendolyn L. Harris (Aaron); granddaughter, Chandolyn Watson; goddaughter, Crystal D. Simpson (Martez); four sisters, Murial Carr of Pasadena, Calif., Cora Gilbert of Hermitage, Ark., Lynda Herbert of Buffalo, N.Y., and Mary Hale of Malvern, Ark.; special sister-in-law, Jackie Martin and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
A celebration of Rev. Watson’s life will be held Monday, Dec. 8, 2014, 11 a.m., at Union AME Church, 1825 Pulaski St., Little Rock, Ark. Family visitation: Sunday, Dec. 7, 2014, 6-7 p.m., at Ruffin & Jarrett Funeral Home, 1200 South Chester St., LR (501) 372-1305. Sign his online guestbook at www.ruffinjarrett.com.