Dateline: Plano, Texas
Gregory Alan McClendon was born in Kinsley, Kansas on June 13, 1969. Growing up, Greg was a daredevil child who was never afraid to push the boundaries, whether that be speeding in his car or his mother’s patience. He and his brothers could often be found running around the halls of Sacred Heart and the ballfields in Larned. Greg’s entrepreneurial spirit sprouted at age 7 when he started his first job rolling and delivering the local paper, and from this young age forward Greg was never without a job. In 1987, Greg graduated from Larned High School. He went on to complete his Associate's Degree with Technical Certification in Telecommunications at Northwest Kansas Area Tech School, and afterward took a job with Nortel rebuilding infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. Upon returning, always the entrepreneur, Greg purchased two apartment complexes.
On May 6, 1995, Greg married Katherine Basom in Garfield, KS, and shortly thereafter moved to Plano, TX, where he spent more than 15 years working in telecommunications. He then pursued other adventures, including chartering flights and trading stocks.
Greg immersed himself in the community, making Plano his second home. Active in his church, Greg welcomed members and guests as they arrived, attended Sunday school classes, and volunteered in the children, youth, and mission programs. Greg also loved to roam the sidelines of football, baseball fields, basketball courts and attend theater productions and dance recitals cheering on his children. He also coached several baseball teams through the years for his boys.
Greg left this earthly world on February 7, 2022 at the age of 52. Greg leaves behind his beloved wife, Katherine; children Jacob Rapp (Sherri) of Manhattan, KS, Drake, Cole, Breck, and Karenna of the home; loving mother Marilyn (Larned, KS), father Gay (Hutchinson, KS); brothers Brian (South Hutchinson, KS) and Rusty (Larned, KS); grandchildren Jayci, Hazeley, and Emry; Dalton McClendon, nephew, and Katie McClendon, neice, and too many furry friends to count. He was preceded in death by his Uncle Jerry.
Visitation will be held Friday, February 18 from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Beckwith Mortuary (Larned) followed by burial at St. Nicholas Cemetery (Kinsley, KS) on Saturday, February 19 at 3:30 PM, with Father Victor Schinstock presiding. A memorial service will be held at First United Methodist Church of Plano at 3 PM on February 26. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the education fund for the McClendon family children through Beckwith Mortuary, PO Box 477, Larned, Kansas 67550. Personal condolences may be left at www.beckwithmortuary.com.
The family would like to extend gratitude to friends and family who have jumped into action to support them; it has been the greatest blessing at this most difficult time.