Paula Powers Cahoon

Paula Powers Cahoon passed away in Dallas, Texas on Wednesday, December 8, 2021 at the age of 86.  She was born in November 19, 1935 in Abilene, Texas, the second child of Jewell and Paul Powers.

Raised in Abilene, her family ran the Abilene Brick Company.  She attended Abilene High School and the summer after graduation met her future husband, Frank Cahoon, at a party inn Abilene.  They both attended The University of Texas at Austin where Paula was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.  The couple dated all four years of college, and she graduated Phi Beta Kappa in Speech Therapy.

Paula and Frank were married in Abilene in 1957 and moved to Killeen, Texas where Frank was stationed at Fort Hood.  In 1959, Paula, Frank and their baby daughter, Corrinne, moved to Midland, Texas where Frank pursued a career in the oil and gas business.  Paula was very active in her community.  She was President of the Junior League of Midland.  She performed in the Midland Community Theater playing the leading role in “The King and I”, “My Fair Lady”, and “The Music Man”.  She also served on the board of Midland Community Theater.  She was an active member of First Presbyterian Church of Midland for almost 60 years, singing in the choir and serving in many other capacities at her beloved church.  She was on the board of The Fine Arts Council at UT and was first president and founding member of the Texas State Committee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts.

She enjoyed traveling to the far reaches of the globe with her husband and children, and later her grandchildren.  Some trips were arduous, such as an excursion to the Antarctic, but no matter how uncomfortable things got at times, Paula was always a good sport.

Paula is preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Frank, and her beloved grandson Hayden Bowers.  She is survived by her daughter, Corinne Cahoon Bowers and her husband Steve of Austin, their children Sara Bowers of Austin; her son Kell Cahoon and his wife Debbie and their sons Lucus and Charlie of Austin; her son Joseph Cahoon and his girlfriend Nicole Brewer of Dallas and his children Claire, John and Anne Cahoon and their mother Christie Cahoon of Dallas; her brother Don Powers of Dallas, and daughters Paige Roach of Lake Jackson and Lee Ann Renner of Dallas, her niece Caroline Swinson of Tulsa, her great grandchildren Robert and Margaret Corcoran of San Antonio, and numerous wonderful extended family members and friends.

The family would like to thank caregivers Lory Smith, Glenda Thomas, Gloria Olawunmi, Shirley Drew, Ruby Lawson, Talsha Johnson, and the staff of Faith Presbyterian Hospice of Dallas.

A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Midland on Thursday, December 16, 2021 at 2:00pm.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the First Presbyterian Church of Midland, 800 W. Texas Ave, Midland, Texas  79701 or to the charity of one’s choice.

Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory in Midland.  Online condolences may be made at www.npwelch.com.