Thomas William Shane

Thomas William Shane, 82, of Porter, Texas passed away on August 14, 2024. Tom was born on February 25, 1942 in Wichita, Kansas. He was preceded in death by his parents Jack and Alma Shane and by his wife Linda Shane of 58 years. Together Tom and Linda are survived by their four children: Kimberly Shane of Porter, TX, Mark Shane of San Diego, CA, Michael Shane of Porter, TX and Sara Graham of Kingwood, TX. Tom is also survived by his grandchildren Lee Estrada, Brenden McBeth, Ian Graham and Gavin Graham. He is also survived by his sister Patricia Prather of Glen Rose, TX.

He graduated from Wichita North High School in Wichita, Kansas in 1960. Tom would receive an undergraduate degree from Kansas State University in 1964. He then attended seminary and received his Master’s degree from Yale University, in New Haven, CT. After a couple moves to St. Louis and Denver, he then attended Vanderbilt in Nashville, TN where he received his Doctor’s degree in Divinity. At the time he went to graduate school in Nashville, he lived in Gutherie, Kentucky and would drive to school in Tennessee. Tom served as the resident minister of the Disciples of Christ Church in Gutherie.

Shortly after finishing all his schooling, he traveled back to Kansas and worked briefly in Hutchinson, KS and then to North Newton, KS. While in Newton he worked in ministry as Chaplain Supervisor at Prairie View Mental Health for 18 years. Tom would also fill in and preach at local churches throughout Newton. One of Tom’s passions was writing. He would write articles quite regularly for the Newton Kansan newspaper along with other periodicals. This collective writing would serve as the foundation for his first published book When Life Meet Death: Stories of Death and Dying, Truth and Courage. Tom was an avid runner and would run 3 miles a day, 7 days a week and continue to exercise for most of his entire adult life.

During his hospital chaplaincy years, Dr. Shane worked as a commissioned law enforcement officer, serving as a chaplain to several agencies. His work in law enforcement took him into the usually hidden world of violence, suffering, sing and disaster where he learned the art of bringing pastoral comfort where it was most needed and least expected.

After his time at Prairie View Mental Health Center Tom changed jobs and began working at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, KS as Chaplain Supervisor in the pediatric intensive care unit for 17 years. He continued his work with law enforcement and was also a part of the American Red Cross Disaster Response Team. He was called to work the Oklahoma City Bombing along with the World Trade Center disaster on 9/11/2001. Through this work in law enforcement, he created his second published book Crisis Pastoral Care: A Police Chaplin’s Perspective.

Tom and Linda finally settled down in a suburb of Houston, TX in 2006 and retired to be near their grandchildren. He was active in Kingwood Christian Church and served as an elder. Throughout his life Tom was passionate about continuing education and helping others. During his spare time, he loved his alma maters and would follow their sports teams.

Funeral arrangements are made through Kingwood Funeral Home where online condolences may be left at www.dignitymemorial.com. A funeral service will be held at Kingwood Christian Church in Kingwood, TX, a suburb of Houston, TX on Friday August 30, 2024 at 10:00. Interment will follow at Rosewood Cemetery, 2602 S. Houston Ave., Humble, TX. In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to Parkinson.org or American Heart Association at www.heart.org.