Catherine Granell
Catherine Granell age 48, a life-long teacher who lived in Rayville, MO, passed away on April 9, 2022 while visiting family in Valley Center, KS.
Cathy was born Dec. 17, 1973 in Wichita KS, to William and Sondra Wenzlaff. She graduated from Friends University with a Bachelors in Elementary Education in 1995, and completed her Masters degree in 2002. Cathy taught for most of her career in the Wichita Public School system, specifically at Allen Elementary, Pleasant Valley Middle, and Stanley Elementary with a short stop at the Independent School. From there she taught in the Jeffco Public School system in Denver, CO and lastly at North-Daviess and Hamilton Middle School in Missouri.
On March 25, 2006 she married Eric Granell, with whom she shared 16 years of immense love and joy. Cathy and Eric’s journey together took them from Kansas to Colorado, and eventually to Rayville, where they bought a farm to enjoy the quiet joys of the countryside and build a home together with their adopted dogs and chickens surrounded by their fruit tree orchards.
Anyone lucky enough to know Cathy knew how much warmth and love she brought into the world. She was joy incarnate and had an infectious laugh that lit up any room she was in. Cathy cared deeply about her students, friends, and family. Cathy always sought opportunities to share her life with those she loved. She worked relentlessly to improve and be the best version of herself every single day. Cathy loved to sing, spend time with her animals, and simply sit outside to take in the simple pleasures of life on her farm enjoying the magic, the sunsets, and stars galore.
Over the years she taught at several schools and was incredibly passionate about making math a concept not to be feared by students but to be something fascinating and interesting to pursue. This love for teaching, for math, and for the kids whose lives she touched, shined through in all that she did. She was beloved by her students, her colleagues, and she left an indelible mark (and probably a few Lego pieces) in every classroom in which she worked.
Cathy is survived by her husband Eric Granell, her parents Bill and Sondra, brothers Chris and Gregg, and preceded in death by her sister Gretchen.
A memorial will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday April 16th at Northside Bible Chapel, 4510 E 61st St N, Keechi, KS.
