Charles Robert McGregor

Charles Robert McGregor died peacefully in his recliner on February 20, 2015, in Logan, Utah, at the age of 85.  Bob was born May 26, 1929, in Thatcher, Idaho, the oldest son of Constance Thatcher and Charles Perry McGregor.  He was raised on the family farm in Thatcher, where he received his early schooling at the Mound Valley and Buttermilk  2-room schools.  He was deemed to be a smart little boy, and skipped the 3rd grade entirely.  He also attended the Thatcher school, and then graduated from Grace High School in 1946.  He went on to earn a degree in Welding Engineering  at Utah State University.

He married a childhood friend, Relda Ane Smith, on August 30, 1950, in the Logan Utah LDS temple.  They were blessed with four children.

Bob was commissioned into the army during the Korean Conflict, and trained in anti-aircraft weaponry.  When his orders came through he was relieved and surprised to be assigned to guard the Golden Gate Bridge, and spent the remainder of his service playing poker in a bunker overlooking the San Francisco Bay.  Losing his trigger finger in a hay mowing accident as a child paid off after all, as the military felt he wasn’t suited for combat.  Little did they know that he could pull a trigger perfectly well with that half finger, and brought home many deer, elk, geese, and bear to prove it.  Bob was a jack of all trades, and held jobs in a variety of disciplines over the years.  He taught high school, where he coached the Grace High boys basketball team to a state championship in 1955.  He was a “rocket scientist” for General Dynamics in San Diego, California.  He spent many years as a project manager for Thiokol Corporation in Utah.  He spent some time as the sales director for DeLorean, Inc.  He taught welding classes at USU.  He started a business, McBrown Enterprises, with a good friend.  They invented, manufactured, and sold fireplace heat exchangers, and eventually sold their patent.  By far his favorite job was the 7 years he spent as the proprietor of the GP Bar Guest Ranch on the Green River Lakes in Wyoming.  He loved everything about it, from guiding hunting trips, pack trips, and fishing trips, to playing his guitar and singing old cowboy songs by the fireplace in the lodge after dinner.  He was an excellent host and the friendships he made during those years have lasted a lifetime.  He retired from the rat race at the age of 52, and moved back to his childhood home in Thatcher.  He and Relda were able to spend many summers in Stanley, Idaho, helping out with their son’s whitewater rafting company.  He enjoyed his life “up the valley”.

Bob was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He had a firm testimony, and served in many capacities over the years, including stints with the high council and stake presidency.  Bob lived life to the fullest, and loved his children without reservation.  He was a darn good grandpa, too.

Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Relda, and oldest daughter, Kristie Ane.  He is survived by his brother Don (Joyce) McGregor, and his sisters Lee (Neil) Beckstead and Jean (Dell) Jensen.  He is also survived by his sons Todd (Deborah) McGregor, Jon McGregor, and his daughter, Kathy (Scott) Jones.  Also by ten grandchildren: Jeremy (Julie) Jones, Jason (Noelle) Jones, Josh (Heather) Jones, Maureen (Phil) Koeven, Miriam (Paul) Trappett, Muriel McGregor, Ali, Paige, and Wil McGregor, and Charlie McGregor.  Also by thirteen great-grandchildren, Kylie, Chloe, Samantha, Jettsen, Owen, Cole, Traegan, Avonelle, Gareth, Donovan, Everett, Malea, and Thane.

A brief graveside dedication will be held on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. in the Thatcher, Idaho Cemetery.  We  invite all friends and family to come and mingle, socialize and swap stories on Friday, Feb. 27^th from 6-8 p.m. at Webb Funeral Home, 1005 South 800 East, Preston, Idaho.  Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.webbmortuary.com