James
Bernard Behan
1930 - 2008
James Bernard Behan, 77, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 12, 2008, surrounded by those who loved and cherished him the most.
Service: A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Grand Prairie.
Burial: Mount Olivet Cemetery in Fort Worth. Reception to follow at Knights of Columbus Hall on Yucca Street in Fort Worth.
Visitation: open from noon to 7 p.m., with the family present 5 to 7 p.m., Sunday at Bean-Massey-Burge Funeral Home.
Rosary: will follow at 7 p.m.
Jim Behan was born in Union City, N.J., on Nov. 18, 1930, to Irish immigrants, Tess and Chris Behan. As a first-generation Irish American, he honorably served our country in the Air Force from 1951-1955. In 1954, while stationed at Carswell AFB in Fort Worth, he married Dorothy Marie Gross. After graduating with honors from St. Peter's College in New Jersey, Jim earned a law degree from SMU in Dallas. A member of the Texas Bar Association and a prominent DFW attorney for over 40 years, Jim served as Grand Prairie Bar Association president in 1971-72. A beloved husband and father of 13, Jim was devoted to his family. As a devout Catholic, he was an active member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus Council 3460, serving as Grand Knight in 1970-71. Jim was preceded in death by parents, Chris and Tess; brother, Martin; daughter, Teresa Catherine; and grandson, Patrick.
Survivors: Wife Dorothy; children, Barney and Susan Behan, Michael and Rosemary Behan, Marian Behan Wrona, Helen and Vincent Dhooghe, John and Mary Ann Behan, James Behan, Patricia and Jody Hamblen, Joseph and April Behan, Mary Carole and Joe Morris, Kathleen and James Treadway, Nancy and Ollie Reiter, Martin and Misty Behan; grandchildren, Chad, Mike, Chris, Claire, John Thomas, Rose, Kathleen Marie, Stacy, Shannon, Catherine, Anne-Marie, Teresa, David, Nicholas, Philip, Dominic, Peter, Liam, Patrick, Aaron, Brian, Tiffany, Jacob, Zachary, Jordan, Cailee, Casey, Caitlin, Kim, Matthew, John Michael, Will, Sarah, Elizabeth, Daniel, William, Grace, Martin, Joseph, Joshua, Amanda, Caleb, Julia, Madeline, Rebecca, Kate, Emily, Tess, Jack, Mary, Collin, Brendan and three due next month; great-grandchildren, Donovan, Noah, Phoebe and one on the way; brothers, Chris, Pat, Matt and their families.