Nancy Earnest Tiller

Nancy Earnest Tiller died in Houston, Texas on Thursday, the 18th of December 2014, after a short illness. She was born on the 13th of March 1937, in Turtle Creek, PA to John and Rae McDonough. She leaves her brother John McDonough and his wife Aileen of Glastonbury, CT and her brother Larry McDonough and his wife Dolores Koslosky of Pittsburgh, PA. Nancy also leaves her niece Kathleen McDonough and her husband John Hickey of Jamaica Plain, MA; her nephew Kevin McDonough of Glastonbury, CT. and her nephew Joe McDonough and his wife Denise Letcher and their children Luke and Grace McDonough of Pittsburgh, PA.

She attended St. Colman's elementary school and Turtle Creek High School. In her senior year of high school she was voted the best female dancer in the senior class. After graduation she danced professionally for two years with the Miriam Sage dancers and performed at various locations throughout the country with well-known celebrities. Nancy then attended the Robert Morris Business College in preparation for an executive secretarial position at U. S. Steel Corporation in Pittsburgh.

After her marriage to John Earnest in 1962 they traveled extensively throughout the world in connection with his executive responsibilities with Gulf Oil. They started their married life in Pittsburgh but relocated to Houston for a few years and then relocated to Tokyo. After several years in Tokyo they relocated to London for five years and then moved back to Pittsburgh. They finally relocated to San Francisco in connection with the Chevron/Gulf Oil merger. When her husband retired in the early 90's they decided to return in Houston. John Earnest passed away in May 2001.

Later in 2001, a mutual friend introduced her to Grady Tiller. She and Grady connected with each other very quickly as they were most compatible. They were married in 2004; he passed away in 2005.

Nancy was not only a beautiful woman but she had a personality to match. She interacted easily and quickly with persons of various backgrounds and carried herself with poise and dignity throughout her life. During her professional dancing career she was said to have "stage presence" and Nancy carried that throughout her entire personal life. She was a voracious reader and loved to go to good movies, attend plays or operas. Nancy also had a strong sense of design that was evident in the clothes she wore and how her houses were decorated. Nancy also was a licensed interior designer and carried out a number of design assignments for clients. While living in Tokyo she took Japanese language lessons and learned how to grow and care for Bonsai trees.

She also had a deep appreciation of fine fabrics and was quite accomplished in sewing ladies' clothing to precise specifications. Nancy could also construct a complete man's suit from scratch. All in all, Nancy Earnest Tiller was a well-rounded and beautiful person.

A Memorial Service celebrating Nancy's life will be held at half-past ten o’clock in the morning on Friday, the 9th of January 2015, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston. Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception to be held in the adjacent grand foyer.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions in Nancy’s memory may be directed to the charity of one’s choice.