John Brasill Kane

John Brasill Kane passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 17, 2012. He was 90 years old. John was born on August 22, 1922 in New Orleans, Louisiana to Mary Amanda Brasill (Mae) and James Kane. John grew up in New Orleans and from an early age began his life-long love of flying, even prevailing on his older sister Grace to drive him to the airport so he could be around planes and pilots.

He briefly attended Tulane University in 1941 where he studied Mechanical Engineering. Later, he studied Electrical Engineering at Delgado Trade School. In 1942 he was a flight instructor in Monroe Louisiana and entered active service in the United States Army in 1944. When it was his turn to go overseas the Army sent him to the Pacific, first to navigate and operate an "FS" boat and later to operate and maintain a sea-going tug.

He married Aimée Legeai Fortson ("B"), also of New Orleans, on December 17, 1943.

Discharged from the Army in 1946 he returned to New Orleans.

A daughter, Aimée Legeai Kane, was born to John and "B" in 1948. Nineteen fifty saw a move to Houston. In Houston, John began flying the corporate plane for Eastern States Petroleum Company. The job quickly segued into a sales job for oil by-products. In 1952 a second daughter Kathleen Cheryl Kane was born followed soon by a new little sister, Carol Janet Kane. In 1958 the sisters welcomed their little brother, James Fortson Kane.

The majority of his working life was as an oil broker, but he was also involved in real estate and construction.

He never lost his love of flying saving his greatest airplane affection for antique airplanes. In his hanger just behind the house in Cypress, TX he built Dry Creek Airport. He wiled away many an hour with son, Jim, rebuilding, flying, and telling stories about not just his old beauties, but also all the adventures he had while up in the wild blue yonder. His circle of storytellers widened when he founded the Houston Antique Airplane Association. Stories were told while B served tuna salad sandwiches and lemonade. With the passing of B in 1989, he left Cypress and Dry Creek Airport.

In June of 2005 John moved to Austin to semi-retire. He was blessed to meet Ann Sanders. Though their time together was short, it made it so much sweeter.

John and B had four children: Aimée Legeai Kane Sheehan and husband Patrick J. Sheehan of Austin, Kathleen Cheryl Kane and husband Jim Osborn of Lockhart, Carol Janet Kane Galvin and husband Jon Galvin of Sedalia, Colorado, and James Fortson Kane and wife Annie Kane of Houston. He also had four grandchildren: James Patrick Sheehan of NYC, Scott Tomas Sheehan of Southlake, Mary Amanda Galvin of Denver Colorado, and Jon Kyle Galvin of Denver, Colorado. In addition he had four great-grandchildren: Samuel Tomas Sheehan, Benjamin Scott Sheehan, Graham John Sheehan, and Grace Ella Sheehan all of Southlake Texas.

John leaves us all with a thousand stories that will be loved, laughed over, and embellished over time. That's the way it is- we're Irish you know!

We all love you Dad and send you on your way- God speed.