Donald Wayne Cohoon

October 2, 1930 - February 5, 2022

Donald (Don) Cohoon was a loving husband, doting father and adoring granddad who was called to Heaven by our Lord on Saturday, February 5, 2022 after 91 blessed years on this earth. He was born in New Boston, Missouri on October 2, 1930 to Victor Gale (VG) and Catherine (Jose) Cohoon. He graduated from Bucklin High School in 1948 and worked on pipeline construction in Tulsa, Oklahoma until he enlisted in the Air Force in 1951. While home on leave for a family funeral, he met the love of his life, Leila Still. They had just three dates before they married on June 8, 1952. Don was stationed in Albuquerque, New Mexico where he served in the 1094th USAF Special Reporting Squadron as Military Police. During his time in the Air Force, he was awarded a Good Conduct Medal and a National Defense Service Medal. He was Honorably Discharged in January, 1955.

Don and Leila moved back to Kansas City in 1955 to start their life. Don worked at Bendix and then sold mutual funds for a short time before deciding that Leila’s career in cosmetology could work for him as well. He graduated from Hays Hairdressing School and began work in the industry. He enjoyed competing in hairstyling competitions and was awarded numerous trophies for his talent. In 1960, Don and Leila founded the Independence School of Hairdressing in Independence, MO. It was the first cosmetology school in Missouri to become nationally accredited. The name would later be changed to Independence College of Cosmetology. Don was a past President of the Missouri Association of Cosmetology Schools. At various times over the years, they owned numerous beauty salons including Leila’s House of Beauty, Chalet of Beauty, LeDon’s Hair Fashions and The Professionals in Hair, Skin & Nails in three locations. They were active members of the OHFC (Official Hair Fashion Committee) of the NHCA (National Hairdressers and Cosmetologists Association), the MHFC (Missouri Hair Fashion Committee) and the Kansas City Guild. They also operated Professional Beauty Products from 1979 to 2018 which was a Midwest distributorship of hair products selling to salons and cosmetology schools in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Colorado. Their cosmetology school was sold in 2019 leaving a 59-year legacy and thousands of successful graduates and happy clients. Don was considered a mentor by many in his lifetime and was loved dearly by family and friends alike.

During his life Don was an avid bird hunter (pheasant, quail, geese and ducks to name a few). He and Leila moved to Lake Lotawana, MO in 1983 where they loved to host gatherings for friends and family, especially the 4th of July parties. Don obtained his pilot’s license in 1968. He loved water skiing, swimming and driving his boats. He also loved traveling to other countries, especially with other Shriners. He was a 50+ year member of the Ararat Shrine temple, and a member of the Old Car Unit, where he loved to drive in parades in one of his collections of old cars. He was also a member of the Jesters and especially loved supporting the Shriners Children’s Hospitals. He and Leila were members of Woods Chapel United Methodist Church.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, step-parents, sister Lovene, brothers Bill and Robert and step-sister Geraldine.

Don leaves his wife of 69 years Leila, half sisters Vicki Berg and Ruth Cohoon, step-sisters Elizabeth Ann Edwards and Juline Hern; son Bruce Cohoon (Vicki), daughter Linda Clifford (Tim); grandchildren Lindsay Evans (Ryan), Adam Green (Victoria), Brittany Accurso (Christopher) and Garrett Cohoon; bonus grandchildren Kimberly Ducker (Richard), Shawna Clifford and Curtis Clifford; great grandchildren Gavin, Bennett, Isabella, Jonathan, Kayleigh, Gianna and a baby girl due in August; bonus great grandchildren Brett, Keaten, Payton, Shawn, Nick, Mya, Hannah and Derrick; and bonus great great grandchildren Caleb, Kye, and Kylah.

Don’s life will be celebrated at Floral Hills Funeral Home, 7000 Blue Ridge Blvd. KCMO 64143 on Friday February 11, 2022. Visitation is from 9:00-10:00 am. The funeral service will begin at 10:00am. Burial will be immediately after at Lee’s Summit Historical Cemetery, 806 SE 3rd St., Lee’s Summit, MO 64063. Masks are required.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a charitable donation to Ararat Shrine Transportation, 5100 Ararat Dr. KCMO 64129 in Memory of Don Cohoon.