Plugged cat was my problem (pass side). Cleaned out the debris & tried my best to flush anything out of the rear cat. Cleared codes (PO301,302,303) via Autozone and engine light did not return after a 1 hour highway drive. Will monitor. Nothing to indicate a misfire during the drive (I was careful when I removed the wires, used a 17mm open-end wrench after dismounting the coils). The misfire codes only appeared with the first power loss which, in retrospect, was probably the initial demise of the forward cat.
Thank you again arkie.

__________________
1999 E320 (gave to daughter) 250K
1994 F150 (may be the end of its road) 240K
1989 560 SL (Reassembly after paint job) 160K
1986 560 SL (deceased., gave it's life protecting my wife)
1988 300 TE (departed)
1994 945T (still running strong with an upgraded cam) 349K
1986 242Ti (deceased)
1968 GT500KR (under restoration)

Sorry CharH, didn't mean to make you defensive. I always try to remember that 'it's your car and your money' so you get to make the final decision.

No apology needed since I wasn't defensive.
But I was working on a customer's car, not my own.