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- Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Saturday, December 14, 2002
Murrysville Architect had an eye for design
When Jim and Claire Bassett decided they needed "a bigger backyard", they moved to Murrysville.
"Mom and Dad, along with my uncle, Knox Bassett, bought 150 acres at Windover and Hills roads, when Windover was two dirt tracks with grass growing in-between," Louise Weir recalled.
Claire Louise McLane Bassett, of Murrysville, Westmoreland County, died on Wednesday, December 11, 2002. She was 85.
Born in Greenburg, she was one of four children whose father owned the Sun Rubber Company in Barberton, Ohio, and operated a real estate business in McKeesport. While attending McKeesport High School, Claire McLane played tennis, rode horses, played the piano and sang in the church choir.
Following graduation from high school, she enrolled in the architectural program at Carnegie Institute of Technology, now Carnegie Mellon University.
While attending Carnegie Tech, she was introduced to James Bassett, who was studying metallurgy at the University of Pittsburgh.
"My parents met when they both attended services at the Third Presbyterian Church in Shadyside on the same Sunday," said their son, Stuart Bassett. "They dated and were married in 1943, and before moving to Murrysville they made their home in Squirrel Hill. Dad was a metallurgist who eventually retired from U.S. Steel."
In 1940, following graduation from Carnegie Tech, Mrs. Bassett began her architectural career with Planert and Lang as an interior design specialist, and during World War II designed pipe for Koppers as part of the company's defense work.
Ruth Wepfer recalled her mother's talent for designing homes and additions that fitted with the personalties of her clients. "Mom had a drawing board in our house where she would design for her clients, while they observed."
When asked what she considered a sample of fine architectural style, "Mom would say the Allegheny County courthouse and jail," said her daughter, Allison Bassett-Carmichael.
In 1970, Mrs. Bassett started teaching at Butler County Commnity College as professor of architecture, and used her numerous contacts to design projects for her students.
In 1986, Mrs. Bassett retired from teaching to open Architectural Services, Claire M. Bassett, AIA, Murrysville.
Mrs. Bassett was a member of Newlonsburg Presbyterian Church, where she taught Sunday school, sang in the choir and worked with the youth group.
She served on the Franklin Regional School Board, was a 25 year leader of the 4-H Boots and Saddle Club, cofounder of Murry-Highlands Pony Club, and was involved in the program Riding for Handicapped, which gave disabled adults and children the opportunity to ride horses.
The Bassetts hosted numerous horse events, including the Bassett Highlands Horse Trials, and Mrs. Bassett rode with the Westmoreland Hunt.
Mrs. Bassett is survived by her husband, James Guy Bassett Jr.; four daughters, Lane Neff, Louise Weir, Allison Bassett-Carmichael and Ruth Wepfer, all of Murrysville; a son, Stuart Bassett, of Carmel, Indiana; 14 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; a sister, Margaret "Pud" Smith, of Salem, Ohio; and a sister-in-law, Alvira Bassett, of Murrysville.
In addition to her parents, Louisa Gettys Allison and Joseph Leiper McLane, she was preceded in death by a son, James Guy Bassett III; a sister, Josephine McLane Heckman; and a brother, Daniel McLane.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. today at Newlonsburg Presbyterian Church. Interment will be in the Emmanuel Cemetery, Export.
Claire Louise McLane Bassett
Murrysville
Claire Louise McLane Bassett, age 85, on Wednesday, December 11, 2002. She was born November 16, 1917, in Greensburg, a daughter of the late Louisa Gettys Allison and Joseph Leiper McLane. In addition to ther parents, she was preceded in death by a son, James Guy Bassett III; a sister, Josephine McLane Heckman; and a brother, Daniel McLane. She is survived by her husband, James Guy Bassett Jr.; four daughters, Lane Neff and her husband, Bob; Louise Weir and her husband, Bill; Allison Bassett-Carmichael and Ruth Wepfer and her husband, Rob, all of Murrysville; a son, Stuart Bassett and his wife, Julie of Carmel, Indiana; 14 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; a sister, Margaret "Pud" Smith of Salem, Ohio; and a sister-in-law, Alvira Bassett of Murrysville.
She was a graduate of Carnegie Institute of Technology (CMU), School of Architecture, Class of 1940, a licensed architect in the State of Pennsylvania and a member of the American Institute of Architects. After graduation, Claire worked for Planert and Lang as an interior design specialist and during the war, for Koppers with pipe design. In 1947 she and Jim moved to Murrysville in search of a "bigger backyard", where she practiced architecture independently from her home. In 1970 she started teaching at Butler County Community College as professor of architecture. She retired in 1986 to open Architectural Services, Claire M. Bassett, AIA, Murrysville. She was a member of Newlonsburg Presbyterian Church, where over the past years she taught Sunday School, sang in the choir and worked with the youth group. She was a member of the Murrysville Women's Club and served on the Franklin Regional School Board for eight years. She was a 25 year leader of the 4-H Boots and Saddle Club, cofounder of Murry-Highlands Pony Club, worked with the Riding For Handicapped, hosted numerous horse events and rode with the Westmoreland Hunt.
Friends received at the Hart Funeral Home, Murrysville, Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. and Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., with a memorial service at Newlonsburg Presbyterian Church, Saturday at 11 a.m. Interment will follow in the Emmanuel Cemetery, Export. A lunch will follow at Emmanuel Reformed United Church of Christ, Hills Church Road, Export. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Parkinson's Chapter of Greater Pittsburgh, National Parkinson Foundation, 6507 Wilkins Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15217 or The Rotary Foundation, c/o Frank Laza, 5809 Torrence Drive, Export, Pennsylvania 15632-8804.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1917 - 2002 (85 years)