Patrick George Asher

Patrick G. Asher passed away peacefully Sunday, 14 December, surrounded by family members; he was 94 years old.

Born 12 September 1931 in Pontiac, MI, Pat was one of nine children. The family moved to nearby St. Johns when he was a teenager, where he graduated high school and found employment with Federal Mogul. He took military leave to serve a tour in the Air Force as an aircraft mechanic; it was while hitchhiking in uniform that he met the love of his life, Eileen Kiene. Following a long-distance courtship over nearly two years, the two were wed in September 1954.

Upon completion of Pat’s Air Force commitment, the couple returned to St. John's where he returned to his former employer. Using his veteran benefits to obtain his pilot licenses, Pat began a 30+ year flying career which saw his growing family (six children between 1957 and 1964) move from Michigan to Pennsylvania in 1967 (where a seventh child was born), and on to Texas two years later.

When Pat came to Fort Worth as chief pilot for Kendavis Industries, he found a home in Richland Hills which provided not only convenient access to the local airport, but also a Catholic church and school within walking distance. It was here that he met Jim Frieden, an American Airlines pilot, who was tending to the lawn and shrub maintenance; a short conversation led Pat to join in the effort. His generous, dedicated spirit began a legacy of care which grew to include most of the family in some fashion. Beside lawn care, Pat continually took on other projects as a volunteer handyman for the parish; when he eventually retired from flying, he was officially hired as parish custodian. When he was forced to retire from that position at age 82, he continued as a volunteer; if Pat thought something needed to be done, he did it.

At home, Pat strove to lead his family by Christian example at every turn. despite the often erratic schedule demands of a corporate pilot. An accomplished carpenter and craftsman in addition to his skills as a mechanic, he handled a vast majority of home and auto repairs himself, giving his sons numerous learning opportunities at his hand. He never spoiled his children, but he saw to it they always had enough. When grandchildren - and great grandchildren - arrived, they were always invited to “help Grandpa,” even if it was just riding in his lap on the lawn tractor. At Pat and Eileen’s 70th wedding anniversary celebration last year the total of children, grandchildren and great grandchildren numbered near 70 people – all because a hitchhiking serviceman got a lift from a girl and her mother on a snowy November night near Findlay, Ohio.

Pat is survived by his wife of over 71 years, Eileen; his younger brother, Michael, and his wife, Karen; his younger sister, Carol; a son, Gerald, and his wife, Meg; son, Dean; son, Brian, and his wife, Karen; daughter, Joni (Karakashevich), and her husband, Misha; son, Craig, and his wife, Sheryl; daughter, Maria (Dauphinais), and her husband, Ray; son, Rev. Fr. Thomas More Asher, and dozens of loving grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Visitation will be held at Bluebonnet Hills Funeral Home, located at 5725 Colleyville Blvd, Colleyville, TX 76034, on December 21, 2025, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

The funeral service is scheduled for December 22, 2025, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at St. John The Apostle Catholic Church, 7341 Glenview Dr, North Richland Hills, TX 76180.

The committal will follow at Bluebonnet Hills Funeral Home, 5725 Colleyville Blvd, Colleyville, TX 76034, on December 22, 2025, from 11:30 am to 12:00 pm.