Gloria Margaret Cloud

There are many words that could describe my mother but that sums them up for me. In spite of so many obstacles, so many hurts, so many setbacks, she just kept on going, energized, persistent, and she kept on smiling. I never heard her say a bad word about anyone. Oh, she sometimes said "why do they have to be that way?", but she never made a disparaging remark about even the most cantankerous person. I've never known anyone with such determination or indomitable spirit. She was ... valiant.

That beautiful, bright, sparkling light that warmed everyone she was near is now with The Light, with the heavenly host praising her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and her God.

Early Christmas eve morning, Gloria Margaret Whittington Cloud heard "Well done, good and faithful servant" as the doors of Heaven swung open wide for her and she fell into the welcoming arms of her Savior and was reunited with loved ones who went before her. She is deeply missed on this side of that great divide.

She was born on Friday, January 14th, 1921 in Beaumont, Texas the daughter of Dalton Ernest Whittington II and Jessie Wiess. She had six brothers and sisters, all who preceded her to heaven: Dorothy, Rosemary, Billy who was killed on Guadalcanal in WW-II, Edward, Mark and Richard. She was also preceded in death by her husband Tom and sons John and Jim and two great grandchildren.

She is survived by one son Tom, three daughters-in-law, ten grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren, two sisters-in-law and fifteen nieces and nephews all of whom she loved deeply.

She was a happy, optimistic person who overcame many sadnesses and rejoiced in the many blessings she received.

Life is full of joy and sadness and she met each head on and loved them, knowing God was in charge and knew best. She "gave thanks in all things".

The joy of a simple childhood, milking the cow, gathering the eggs, playing jacks and hop-scotch with family and friends.

The deprivations and struggles of the depression years.

The sadness of losing her younger brother in the war.

The sweetness of a love, a marriage, a husband.

The sadness of waiting for a husband to return from war.

The sweetness of children, the heartache of losing them in death.

The joy in serving her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, of witnessing to everyone she met, of traveling to many countries to tell them about Jesus and making many friends in those places.

The comfort and joy of her family and many friends; of her domino group and her Bible class.

Mother would tell anyone about Jesus and how He loved them and that she wanted to meet them in heaven with her.

I will see her again when it's my time. I hope you will join us there.

Visitation will be 1:15 pm to 2:00 pm, Saturday, January 2, 2021 at Great Hills Baptist Church, 10500 Jollyville Road, Austin, Texas. Funeral service will begin at 2:00 pm. Burial will follow the service at Capital Parks, Pflugerville, Texas.