Jeffrey Thomas McLane

Jeffrey Thomas McLane's life on earth peacefully ended on April 12, 2012, in his beloved home. He simply called it, "The 505." There was no place he would rather be. Jeff was surrounded by family and caregivers. He is now in heaven rejoicing at seeing his beloved father, Oscar Walton McLane, and his travel buddy and friend, Richard Jordan. Jeff was born in Middletown, Connecticut, on March 10, 1943. His family moved to Mexico early in Jeff's life due to his father's career. Growing up in a foreign country gave Jeff a wide range of childhood experiences and a love of the Spanish language. He attended San Marcos Baptist Academy for middle school and high school. He had an invitation to play college football for the Baylor Bears, but a few fun adventures in Fayetteville, Arkansas, with its scenic mountain setting, lured him away to the land of the Razorbacks.

Jeff was an entrepreneur throughout his life, starting several successful companies in the varied fields of commercial real estate development, biotechnology research, and special education. The last company, PCI Education, was co-founded in 1991 with his wife to fulfill the highest educational potential of children and adults with developmental disabilities. PCI is a testament to his vision of imagining a company and then making it a reality. The PCI Reading Program will stand as a tribute to his knack for knowing how to grow a company. One PCI employee wrote this week on Facebook that a giant has fallen. Truer words were never written.

Jeff and his wife loved driving the back roads of Texas, always taking the road less travelled. Going to art festivals, Jeff delighted in supporting talented artists from around the country. Jeff also loved collecting antique furniture, pottery, antique pharmaceutical bottles, handmade knives, anything with giraffes on it, and artwork. He was generous in spirit, often spying treasures for family members, co-workers, and friends to take home to surprise them. If his wife admired something, he bought it. Jeff also loved swimming with his grandchildren at the 505 and was the world's best macaroni and cheese maker ever. In the year 2000, Jeff welcomed his wife's mother, Mahdeen Cagle Franks, into their home where she still resides at the age of 91. Jeff loved the Mama Deen very much. And she loved him.

During Jeff's 11 month illness brought on by severe obstructive sleep apnea, which included 7 months in the hospital, he listened daily to music from the church he and his wife have attended for 12 years, Community Bible Church (CBC). The name of the CD is Broken, Restored, Loved. The music is for anyone who may have gotten lost, but now is found and renewed in spirit. CBC is a mega church here in San Antonio but with a small town feeling of love. ICU RN, Kelly Robles Stevens. and her husband, Jeff Stevens, a respiratory therapist, came to live with Jeff at home for 3 months of 24/7 care, bringing the "hospital" home with us. These two angels allowed Jeff the blessing of seeing his newly remodeled 505 and enjoying his yard for over 4 months. They took him riding to get milkshakes, see the bluebonnets, and enjoy the outside world. During the last 6 weeks, Jeff was lovingly cared for by Gene, Minda, Pops, and Angie who treated him as one of their family. Also for the last four months of Jeff's life, all his meals were carefully prepared by Ken Stonecipher to the specifications of the doctor's orders. We are forever indebted to them all. Jeff was also a proud coin-carrying member of Club 12 in San Antonio. During this 11 month journey, hundreds of people on Facebook have followed Jeff's health and sent prayers and kind comments. God bless them all.

He is survived by his wife and best friend of 31 years, Janie Cagle McLane, of San Antonio, two children: a daughter, Tamera Harris, and husband Stan of San Antonio; and a son, Jeffrey Todd McLane, and wife Angela of Colorado Springs, Colorado. He had four grandchildren: James Ryan Griffin and Joshua Thomas Griffin of San Antonio, Ellie McLane and Jack Thomas McLane of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and two step grandchildren, Crystal Harris Bailey and her husband Andrew of Michigan and Ryan David Harris of San Antonio, and his only great-grandchild Tristan Flores-Griffin of San Antonio. Jeff also leaves behind his three siblings, Jonathan Walton (Mickey) McLane and wife Joyce, of Connecticut, Susan McLane of Connecticut, and Robert Benjamin McLane of Texas; his goddaughter Meredith Gilbert Dunn from Boston, Massachusetts, who came to sit with Jeff for three days in the last week of his life; his sister-in-law Anita Baker and husband Arthur from Nashville, Arkansas, brother-in-law Jerry Cagle from San Antonio, sister-in- law Linda Keith and husband David from San Antonio, sister-in-law Sue Ann Bender and husband Steve of Massachusetts, and sister- in-law Kay Franks of Houston, Texas; numerous nieces and nephews in Connecticut, Arizona, Arkansas, and Texas, including Leslie Keith Boulet of San Antonio, whom he mentored with his marketing savvy while at PCI Education; and by his entire PCI family, both former and present employees, who loved him dearly.

For anyone desiring to make a donation in Jeff's memory, please do so to an amusement park designed especially for children and adults with special needs here in San Antonio. This park is one of a kind just like our Jeffster. The park is Morgan's Wonderland, 5223 David Edward Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78233, or visit their website that accepts donations. If you know of a family who has a child with special needs, please spread the word about this awesome park started by Gordon Hartman to honor his daughter.