Jack G. Cahoon

Jack G. Cahoon of Mercer Island, WA, passed away at home on July 11, 2013 after celebrating his 65th wedding anniversary and 89th birthday with family.

He was born to George E. Cahoon and Opal Brown Cahoon on July 7, 1924 in Los Angeles, CA and as a young child moved to Yakima, WA. He graduated from Yakima High School where he participated in football and track and entered the University of Washington and pledged Sigma Nu Fraternity.

During WWII, Jack joined the NROTC at the U. of W. with 24 other Engineering students. He was then deployed to the new aircraft carrier U.S.S. Tarawa where he served as a navigational officer. After the war, he returned to Yakima for the summer where he met Suzanne Raymond who was home from college. They both returned to school in the fall and because Jack’s father was ill, he changed majors and graduated from the U. of W. business school in order to continue his father’s grocery business.

Jack and Suzanne were married on June 27, 1948 and together raised their three children, Scott (Barb Tash), Sandra (Gary Simon) and Kevin (Maria Callaghan). Jack’s grocery business career continued with his two brothers opening multiple grocery stores in the Yakima Valley. Later, he had the opportunity to own two Prairie Market (wholesale cash and carry market) franchises in Yakima and Wenatchee. This venture led to his starting 35 Prairie Markets in central California.

In 1975, he returned to Mercer Island and became the Vice President of Operations of Tradewell Stores, Inc. Later, he sold commercial real estate with Donahue and Associates. At that time, Jack “sort of retired” to enjoy his family activities with eight grandchildren which include Christopher (Melissa Clapper), Colin Simon (Sarah Lambdin), Aaron, Hillary (Tim Bovat), Alexandra Simon , Hanley, Angus, Leighton and two great granddaughters, London Simon and Charlie Grace Bovat along with golf, tennis, boating, fly fishing, poker club, rose gardening and following the “Huskies”.

Jack and Suzanne loved to travel and enjoyed returning to the ancestral home of the Colquhoun (Cahoon) clan in Scotland. Jack belonged to Kiwanis in Yakima, Yakima Tennis Club, Modesto Tennis Club and Mercer Island Beach Club. He was an Eagle Scout and loved that his two grandsons Christopher and Aaron followed in his footsteps.

Jack leaves behind his beloved wife Suzanne, brothers Gene (Helene), George (Paula), sister Gerry Fisher (Jim) and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial will be held at Emmanuel Episcopal Church on Mercer Island, 4400 86th Ave, S.E. at 2:00 PM, Saturday, July 20. Reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to The Salvation Army, Evergreen Health Hospice Care or Emmanuel Church Memorial Fund. Jack was special.