Gregory Lee Catherwood was born March 21, 1949 in Anthony, Kansas, son of Earl and Marjorie (Sands) Catherwood. He was raised in Anthony and lived with his parents and brother, John, until the age of 10, when he went to live with his grandmother Catherwood on the farm. He was baptized at age 10, with all of his family also being baptized at the Christian Church in Anthony on Easter morning in 1959. His grandmother passed away when he was 14.

Greg attended Anthony schools and graduated 8th grade from Plainview Grade School. Some of you may remember at Plainview when he shot a half court basketball shot which won the game by 1 point. He was born an outdoorsman at heart. He learned to trap, fish and hunt from his father. He beat a school record for poll vaulting in Kiowa and Cheney. He was also proud of receiving the Senior Industrial Arts Award. He flunked English but excelled at industrial arts/shop and made a number of blue ribbons at the industrial arts fairs. He was a handyman and not afraid to take on a challenge to fix something. This became an asset when working for the natural gas companies, Citi Service, Williams and retiring from Southern Star after 31 years of service. He worked the majority of his career in western Kansas.

He enjoyed his belt buckle business, C&C Buckle for 20 years, selling belt buckles, sports and rodeo memorabilia. He enjoyed owning the Argonia Nugget for 3 years and getting to know some of the Argonia community. His hobby that paid was gold panning in Colorado.

He was especially proud to have been an army ranger, serving in Vietnam; being awarded 3 bronze star medals, one for valor and 2 for notorious service. He also received 2 air medals, an Army accommodation medal and the combat infantry badge. He graduated from Special Forces Recondo School, which gave him the title LRRP (LURP). His unit in Vietnam was attached with the first infantry division.

He was of good hearted nature and was kind to nearly everyone, with some people taking advantage of this. He was especially glad to have had 2 children, Andrea and AJ, with Roxanne Nottingham; and 2 grandchildren, Donovan and Gunner.

Greg was a lifetime member of the NRA, DAV, and the 75th Rangers Association, staying in touch with his Army buddies over the years, like brothers.

Cancer was a big chapter in his life, having been exposed to Agent Orange for a year in Vietnam. He developed prostate cancer in 2008, and prostatic bone cancer in 2011, with his health starting to rapidly decline in 2016. He also dealt with PTSD which was caused by infantry combat.

Being a proud Irish Catherwood, he drank and fought a lot in his younger days. Over time though, he learned what tough meant. That being: he'd rather be a friend than a foe, which he was to many.

On September 9, 2017, Greg passed away at his home near Anthony, Kansas at the age of 68 years, 5 months and 19 days. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Greg will be forever missed by his companion, Mary Miller; his children: Andrea Catherwood and AJ Catherwood; grandsons: Donovan Holdaway and wife, Cheyenne and Gunner Johnsen; brother, John Catherwood; and a host of other relatives and many dear friends.

Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 13, 2017 at Prairie Rose Funeral Home in Anthony. Burial will follow in Spring Grove Cemetery.

Visitation will be held 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday at Prairie Rose in Anthony.

Memorials in memory of Greg may be made to the Kansas Humane Society and may be sent in care of the funeral home.

Prairie Rose Funeral Home, 602 E. Main St., Anthony, KS 67003, is in charge of arrangements.