Murrysville woman known for creativity

Nancy Cassady liked a little bit of creative chaos in every aspect of her life, from her home to her hairstyle.

“That’s how she liked her hair — big and blonde and coming out in lots of different directions,” said her daughter, Amy Cassady Eskew.

Mrs. Cassady drove around town in a big Cadillac. She had a large closet filled with shoes and matching dresses. She enjoyed being creative, and played viola for many years.

Nancy J. Cassady of Murrysville died Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2019. She was 82.

Mrs. Cassady was born June 14, 1937, in Meyersdale, to the late Glenn Albert Baer and Mary Elizabeth (Hollar) Baer.

Mrs. Cassady took up the viola in high school. Her school band would travel around the region playing concerts.

“She liked the viola because it had a unique, harmonizing part to the violin,” she said.

After Mrs. Cassady met and married David Keith Cassady, he took up the violin so the couple could play together.

They played with the Wilkinsburg Civic Symphony, often taking their two children along to concerts.

“We’d go to symphonies on the weekend,” Eskew said. “We didn’t like it at the time, but I have more of an appreciation now.”

She worked as an executive secretary for Duquesne Light.

Later she found jobs at Gimbels department store and as an agent for Hamil Quinlan Real Estate and Coldwell Banker.

Mrs. Cassady loved gardening and painting ceramics.

She beat breast cancer about 20 years ago.

Paula Zurcher worked as a hairstylist at the day spa where Mrs. Cassady was a regular.

“I did her hair every week,” Zurcher said.

The two became close friends, going to lunch and talking about their lives.

“She was just a classy lady, very nice, and very kind,” Zurcher said.

Mrs. Cassady was shy and soft-spoken but deeply loyal to her family and friends, her daughter said.

She loved to play with her grandchildren, and even after she turned 80 years old would drive to Maryland on her own to visit them.

She loved swimming, at the pool and the beach.

She was a member of First United Methodist Church.

Mrs. Cassady was preceded in death by her husband, David Keith Cassady, in 1996.

She is survived by her daughter, Amy Cassady Eskew and husband, Paul; son Brett David Cassady and wife, Tara; and three grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday in Hart Funeral Home, Murrysville.

A funeral service will be held at 9 a.m. Sunday in the funeral home.

Interment will be private in Murrysville Cemetery.