Colleen G Cahoon

Colleen G. Cahoon
March 16, 1933 – March 17, 2026

Colleen G. Cahoon, 93, of Engelhard, passed away peacefully at her home on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.

Colleen was born in Hyde County on March 16, 1933, to the late Johnnie and Nancy Williams Gibbs.  She married Horace Cahoon, Sr., who preceded her in death.

Colleen never enjoyed school. As a child she would be carried to school and when she got to the schoolhouse, she would make them take her right back home. She attended Engelhard School until her 7th grade year. At the end of her 7th grade the classmates said “See you in the fall” and Colleen infamously replied “no you won’t” and she meant it. Colleen began to help her aunt with odd jobs in the community such as cleaning the theater and the church. She even worked in the local sewing shop.  After obtaining her license Colleen would be seen driving her father and coworkers to their jobsites.

Most people would consider Colleen as a caretaker.  During the day time she babysat children and at night she would stay with the elderly who didn’t want to be at home alone. Even on Sundays, she would be found helping in the nursery during church service.  Some say she even cared for most of Engelhard.  She showed her love for each and every child and was so kind to all she met. At Halloween she would have the special treat bags and take pictures of each trick or treater. She loved Christmas and would keep her tree up from October until January.

Colleen was a very neat, organized, and sanitary lady in her time. Everything had its place. Children will remember that you didn’t put your hands in the chip bag and you didn’t share drinks.

Colleen was baptized through the Engelhard Pentecostal Church and later joined the Engelhard Christian Church DOC.  As a devout Christian and believer she would read her devotional and Bible daily. She believed in being the “hands and feet of Jesus” by showing love and compassion to all. This included her love for animals. She lived on as little as possible yet shared with all. 

Colleen didn’t travel out of the county much. It was a family joke that she couldn’t drive past a traffic light, so she wouldn’t drive beyond Belhaven. When her sister, Arlie, was living they would make daily trips to the post office and grocery store. Arlie liked going out but couldn’t drive, Colleen could drive, but preferred being a homebody. They completed each other and you rarely saw one without the other.

In her recent years she found great joy in watching her grandchildren and great grandchildren grow and learn. She spoiled them rotten with the good candy, hugs, laughter, and dollar bills. She found solace in her home surrounded by her family and pets.

A graveside service will be held at 3:00 pm, on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at the Fulford Cemetery in Engelhard.  Rev. L. Spottwood Graves will officiate.  The family will visit with friends following the service.

She is survived by her son, Aubrey Cahoon and his wife Jennifer of Engelhard; five grandchildren: Ryan (Ashley) of Trinity, NC, Jessica (Jacob) of Engelhard, Audra of Creswell, John Aubrey and Hyden of Engelhard; great grandchildren:  Joni, Aubrey, Jenni, Ryan, Ryley, Avery, and Paxton Catlett, Ella, Brantley, Eryn, Ruthie, and Dean Lewis, and Nala Cahoon; and a special nephew Tommy Lee Gibbs (Kaye).

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a grandson, Cody, and her siblings:  Atha Gibbs, Arlie Flowers, Louise Weatherly and Darkis Fisher.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Dare County Animal Shelter at PO Box 2477, Manteo, NC  27954, or a church of your choice.

Arrangements are by Bryan Funeral Service, Swan Quarter.

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