James Patrick O'Brien

James Patrick “Pat” O’Brien, age 87, of Katy, Texas passed away on October 22, 2021 after a short illness at Spanish Meadows Nursing & Rehabilitation. Pat O’Brien was born in 1933 in Detroit, Michigan and was a devoted son to his parents William Edward O’Brien and Catherine McGrath O’Brien. A loving brother to his 4 siblings, he was the product of a Catholic education - graduating from St. Mary’s High School before matriculating and graduating from Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama with a degree in Business Administration. He served in the United States Army during the Korean War and was stationed in Japan, which began a love of travel and learning about new cultures that endured throughout his life. He married his college sweetheart, Alice Scheuerman, and was a dedicated and loving father to his 5 children. He began his career in Finance at General Motors and continued to work as a Controller in the automotive industry in Michigan and then Texas, where he moved with his family in 1970. He instilled a sense of adventure in his children with frequent road trips to Galveston, Padre Island and Mexico. After retirement, he traveled extensively throughout Europe, and whether travelling alone or with family he was always ready to meet new people and have new experiences. He was a political junkie who was informed and riveted to the events around him motivated by his compassion for others less fortunate than himself. He loved the Christmas holidays as it allowed him to shower his loved ones with the gifts that he purchased throughout the year because he could never pass up a bargain. A proud grandfather to Justin (Lindsey), Andrew, Kendall (Ben), Jack, Ashley, Lauren, and Erin as well as his great grandchildren Rylie and Barrett, he is further survived by his loving sister, Mary Ellen O’Brien of Providence, RI, his sons and daughters and their spouses, Shawn (Don), Dione, Dayna (Kevin), Tamra, and Cameron (Kristin). A memorial will be held in the near future for family and friends to mourn his passing and celebrate his life. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donation to a charity of your choice or consider restoring a forest through Trees for a Change (treesforachange.com).