Greg Steven Pugh, of Salem, was killed in a car accident in Dent County on June 6, 2020.
Greg was born May 23, 1977 at Garland Memorial Hospital in Garland, Texas. Greg was the son of Donald Norman (Donnie) and Linda Jane (Kirchoff) Pugh.
Greg attended Handley Elementary in Garland, Texas. He was a student at Handley from kindergarten through fourth grade. His father was transferred to Lowville, New York with Kraft Foods in 1987. Greg attended Lowville Academy from fifth grade until graduating high school with the class of 1995. Greg graduated from Jefferson Community College with an Associate Degree in Math and Science. He graduated from SUNY College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry of Syracuse University in 2000. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Forest Biology and Natural Resources Management.
He was a newspaper carrier for the Watertown Daily Times. Greg mowed several yards and shoveled snow from sidewalks and roofs. He enjoyed trapping since the seventh grade to the present. During college in the summer, Greg worked for Kraft Foods and the Village of Lowville.
Greg was employed with the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service for 19 years. He was stationed at the Mark Twain National Forest in Salem. He was a forest service representative. He had worked at Mount Pleasant, Michigan and the University of Missouri in Columbia.
Greg was born with congenital heart disease. He was not expected to survive. Greg had several defects with his heart. He was a miracle, and at nine weeks old, he had his first surgery at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, Texas. During his life, he had heart surgeries at Boston Children’s Hospital; Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis; and Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, St. Louis.
Greg is survived by his parents, Donnie and Linda Jane Pugh, Lowville, New York; sister, Lori Janelle (Jeff) Hicks, Fayetteville, Arkansas; brother, Kurtis Erin (Kaitlyn) Pugh; nieces, Kayden Hannah and Kensley Grace Pugh, East Syracuse, New York; step-nephew, Anthony Hicks, Fayetteville, Arkansas; godparents, Phillip W. (Carmella) Pugh, San Jose, California; aunts and uncles, Phillip E. (Kathy) Kirchoff; Kyle E. (Carmen) Kirchoff; Kent A. (Vicki) Kirchoff; and Diana L. (Kent R.) Eikenberry; many cousins; and Greg’s girlfriend, Kristina Prewett, and her daughters, Saige and Libby, Rolla.
Greg was preceded in death by his grandparents, Earl Bernard (Ben) and Doris Vivian (Vandermark) Kirchoff; and Clarence Everett and Edna Mae (Plummer) Pugh; and cousin, Bradley Colson.
Reciting of the Rosary was held June 15, 2020 at Potts Chapel, Independence, Kansas. The funeral Mass will be June 16 at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, Independence. He will be buried in the Calvary Cemetery of St. Andrew’s Catholic Church at Mount Hope Cemetery, Independence.
Arrangements are with Potts Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Ronald McDonald House Charities, 110 North Carpenter, Chicago, Illinois 60607.
