Carl “Calvin” Cassidy

Carl "Calvin" Cassidy, 85 of Sloans Valley, Kentucky passed away peacefully on April 4, 2026 surrounded by his son and daughter-in-law.

Born on September 21, 1940 in Sloans Valley to the late Allene and Luther P Cassidy. Calvin lived his life in the peaceful community of Sloans Valley with his family. He married Mary Ann Martin on October 14, 1967. Their precious family was made whole when their son Rex was born in 1970 and years later their family was made complete when their son Rex married Melissa Craig. Calvin and Ann gained a daughter with Melissa.

When Calvin talked, you listened, to learn something or just to be entertained. He knew something... about everything. He had the ability to not just talk about, he could show you how to do things. He loved big. He loved his Sloans Valley community and protected it like he was the law. And, in a way he was...

When Calvin was only 24 years old, he worked at a service station in Tateville. He was confronted early one Sunday morning at Dancy's Service Station by a couple of young men, who robbed and forced him into a 1958 Buick. It took two men and a foreign 22, to kidnap and rob Calvin Cassidy! He was found tied up, hours later but thankfully was ok except for numbness in his legs from being hogtied. Calvin loved telling the story, it made headlines. He has the newspaper to prove it.

Calvin was also robbed at the same service station, just 3 years prior to this incident. He kept the hammer that was used on him when he was robbed that day.

The newspaper article quoted young Calvin as saying he was done working the "graveyard" shift. It was just too dangerous. Calvin became a headline in the Commonwealth Journal and a legend that day.

He loved his wife, his family, his cousins, his son, daughter-in-law, and even the dog children Melissa brought into his house. The same dog children that he swore would not be in the house are the same ones him and Ann put in the car to go get chicken nuggets or whatever the dogs wanted. Because apparently the pups were starting to ask for fast food, according to Calvin. That's how he told it anyway.

He grew to love Howie, Pepper, and Hadley, the dog children and they loved him. They especially loved the bologna treats that Calvin sneaked to them. We imagine he and those pups shared a lot of secrets along with the treats. He walked them when he felt good and later when he didn't, we suspect Hadley walked Calvin.

Calvin had to watch all the pups go and crossover and it took it's toll on Calvin's heart. Maybe that's how the neighbor's dog, Boomer, worked his way into Calvin's heart. There was a vacancy and Boomer walked right in. Boomer is the best dog Calvin never had. Boomer is already missing his friend Calvin.

Calvin probably wouldn't admit it, but he must have loved animals because he fed a menagerie of wild animals and would sit for hours at his big picture window watching them all enjoy the treats he put out for them. Squirrels, rabbits, birds, cats, and maybe even a deer or two found their way to Calvin's door to feed.

There's a certain amount of kindness to a man that asks for nothing but gives all he has to an animal he doesn't own. Calvin earned respect, quietly.

Calvin wore many hats in his life, from those early days as a gas station attendant, to Park Ranger at the Burnside Park, Special deputy with the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office, to the Kentucky Highway Department, from where he would eventually retire after 20 years, during which time he also served as Pulaski County District 8 Highway Superintendent.

Calvin was a hard worker all his life and a long time member of the Sloans Valley Baptist Church. He was a devoted husband, father, brother, uncle, neighbor, and friend. Calvin loved his life in the Valley and was very active in the Sloans Valley community. He was a founding member of the Tateville Fire Department and a long time fire department supporter. And following in his father's footsteps, he was a vigilant and loving caretaker of the Sloans Valley Cemetery, gifting many burial plots to those who had no final resting spots.

Calvin had many loves. He loved buying and selling cars. In fact, some of his last stories included details of some of his favorite cars. He had great recall of the year and make of each one. He could give such good detail, you could almost see him cruising down 27, circling Finley's, with his left arm hanging out the window.

Calvin loved cars, he never really gave that up. If there was a good deal to be made on a car, he was gonna make it. And with each deal, came a story. We don't know if Calvin loved making the deal on a car best... or telling the story... because he loved telling stories too.

If you were lucky, you might get to hear a good story from Calvin more than once. He sure could tell a good story! One he told us just this past Friday, was about marrying the love of his life, Ann. (Mary Ann Martin, daughter of the late John and Ida Martin). As the story goes, Calvin told his lady, that if she wanted to marry him, she was going to have to wait a day. You see, Ann was planning the wedding and was talking about getting married on that day, but it was Friday the 13th, and if you know Calvin, you know that man didn't do anything on Friday the 13th!

Apparently, Ann thought that was a reasonable request and she married Calvin on October 14, 1967, at the "Old McCormack" Christian Church in Lincoln County, Kentucky. Calvin, known for his prowess at making a deal, married his lovely bride and gladly handed the preacher a $20 bill. Calvin said that was a lot of money back then. The preacher asked Calvin if he wanted change back. Calvin got a kick out of that part.

Can you just imagine Calvin running to Ann as her face lit up to see her husband's smile again! How wonderful Heaven must be! One of Calvin's favorite hymns was "Sweet Beulah Land". Melissa recently starting taking banjo lessons and would often practice it through the week in the Valley. Often, Calvin would tell her to practice all she wanted that it wouldn't bother him, saying that it might even help him sleep. Melissa had hoped to have learned to play that song for him since he loved it so well.

So when you think of Calvin, think of the Sweet Beulah Land that he knew, and smile, knowing that Calvin is resting better than he ever has and that we should be so lucky as Calvin Cassidy, to call Beulah Land home, where there will never be another... sad farewell.

Calvin was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Ann Cassidy; his parents, Allen and Luther P. Cassidy; a brother, James Lee Cassidy; his sister, Norma Jean Thurman; and a nephew, Jimmy Issacs.

Calvin is survived by his son, Rex & (Melissa Craig) Cassidy; a nephew, Tony Thurman; great nephew, "TJ" Thurman; a special family member, Brian McKee who he loved as a son; a very dear friend/neighbor, Wade Abbott; special friends; Donna Sue and Jason Murphy, as well as a host of many friends and family who mourn his loss.

A funeral service will be at Pulaski Funeral Home on April 9, 2026. Family will gather at 9:00 AM, with public visitation beginning at 10:00 AM, with the funeral service at 1:00 PM in the chapel of the funeral home. Burial will be in the Sloans Valley Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers the family requests that expressions of sympathy take the form of donations to Sloans Valley Cemetery, 550 S. HWY 27 Loop 3, Burnside, KY 42519.

Pulaski Funeral Home is honored to assist the family with arrangements.