Gregory Lee Olsen was born in Texas City early morning of August 13th, 1965. His parents were warned that he would be a very small preemie baby, so everyone was surprised when a little bald headed Buddha baby of more than 9 pounds was born. He was the youngest of three and though he was the baby, his presence was always known. From scalping his sister's beautiful growing Krissy dolls hair and using her makeup for war paint to torturing his brother by pranking him and breaking his collectibles. Greg was an avid storyteller. At any time he had a story with good news and bad news that was the listeners choice as to which they got first. Typically the stories involved dinosaurs and all the facts one could stand. When you asked for the opposite news, he would let you know “well that was the good/bad also”.

Always known for being barefoot because in his words “his dawgs can’t breathe with shoes on”. Greg was never far from the neighborhood “boys,” he basically had 3 mothers growing up and it was not uncommon for Mrs. Anderson or Mrs. Lytle to call his mother and say, “do you know what the boys did or are doing?”

Greg's big life ambition as a very young man was to play for the Dallas Cowboys while saving the world from dinosaurs and Nazis. He graduated from Clear Creek High School. While going to college at University of Houston Clear Lake he worked with his brother Charles and brother-in-law Layne. He worked in the banking industry at a computer data center, which would be part of a career path he would stay on for the next 20 plus years. He graduated from U of H Clear Lake with a degree in Accounting and a minor in computer sciences as the safe bet. In 1993 when the Bank processing center needed someone to relocate for a newly acquired branch in the Valley, he was the only employee without a spouse or children. He packed up his Ford Ranger and took off for Harlingen.

With this relocation away from all of his family and best friends, Greg's life would be forever changed. At a bank that was the primary account he was responsible for servicing he met Bertha. Never one for sharing his relationship statuses before, his whole family knew she was different. In July of 1995 all of Greg’s Houston, Texas family and friends caravaned to the Valley for the perpetual bachelor’s wedding. And such a wedding and party it was! It was also clear at that moment that Greg would never return to Houston again. His family and life was now with Bertha and her daughter Rose.

Greg and Bertha lived a full life in the Valley surrounded by Bertha’s family of many cousins and nieces and nephews. Anytime you spoke to Greg there he had an anecdote or praise about one of Rose’s accomplishments. Greg was one to help anyone and everyone with any task that was needed.

Greg’s proudest role and title in life was “papaw.” In May of 2017 daughter Rose and son in law Jeremy gave birth to Greg’s grandson and “twin flame” Teddy. Teddy got to learn all about video games and war tanks. Teddy’s favorite being a Sherman while Greg’s favorite was the “bad guy” tank — the German WW2 Mark V Panther for those wondering. There was nothing Greg enjoyed more than spending time with family, especially Teddy.

Greg is survived by his wife Bertha, daughter Rose and her husband Jeremy Cobb and their son Teddy. His brother Charles Olsen and wife Nancy Wegiel and sister Melody and husband Layne Byrns. He is also survived by many cousins in law, nieces and nephews.

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