John L. "Jack" Healy

Jack was born in Houston, TX on December 1, 1923, the second child of Patrick J. Healy and Mary Matilda Ehrhart Healy. He died on December 5, 2016. He was predeceased by his parents, his older brother Pat Healy, and by his wife Jane Ann Jones Healy. His daughters Pam Overstreet, Pat Healy, and her husband Mick Casey survive him. His granddaughter Kimberly Overstreet Briggs and her husband Eric Briggs, his grandson Ryan Casey, and two great-grandsons Jacob and Luke Briggs also survive him. A graveside service will be held at 2:00pm on Thursday, December 8, 2016 at Klein Memorial Park, 32539 State Highway 249 Decker Prairie, TX 77362.

When Jack was a toddler, his father died suddenly of a heart attack and his mother was left to raise her two boys relying on support from her stepmother. Jack's early life was spent living in his step-grandmother's boarding house in downtown Houston on Caroline Street. He and his brother Pat slept year round on the screened-in porch. He attended Sacred Heart School and graduated from St. Thomas High School in 1941. Among other sports, he played ice hockey in high school and later at the semi-professional level. Six months after high school graduation, he followed his brother into the Army Air Force to serve his country in WWII. The brothers agreed that whoever made it home alive would take care of their mother. Pat was killed, and Jack honored their agreement providing for her for the rest of her life.

Jack met Jane in the late 1940s and they were married on January 24, 1947. Their first daughter Pam was born in December that year. He began working for the NBC affiliate station KPRC-TV Channel 2 when the station was inside a Quonset hut located on what is now the 610 Loop, spending his entire career in commercial sales.

They bought a house in Bellaire, TX, and their second daughter Pat was born in 1955. In 1960 they built a home in a "new area" called Meyerland. Throughout their marriage they were a social couple hosting and attending many parties. Music on the stereo, martinis on the patio, and a good steak on the grill, topped off with a couple of cookies for Jack was how they enjoyed many nights.

In 1966, following their passion for golf, Jack and Jane moved their family to the Champions Golf Club community where they made and treasured many lifelong friends who became extended family. Their granddaughter Kimberly was a cherished addition to their lives in 1971. After Jane passed in 1990, Jack remained in the Champions area and played golf for many more years, read novels, and walked the neighborhood for exercise to balance his life long love of cookies.

His family grew with the addition of his grandson Ryan and two great grandsons Jacob and Luke. Jack survived a stroke at age 88, a broken arm at age 91, and lived independently until macular degeneration eventually took away his passion for reading novels and his ability to drive. His last sixteen months were spent in assisted living in Belmont Village at Hunter's Creek. Ever a survivor, he made new friends, enjoyed listening to live music, going on Friday outings, and of course eating cookies.

He was a devoted son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He was a heck of a father-in-law and grandfather-in-law to both Mick and Eric. A gracious gentleman, he was the steady and faithful rock of the family. His unfailing strength and resiliency were both admirable and astonishing. Jack was deeply loved and will be forever missed.