Mildred Estelle Carter Cloud was born September 10, 1919 in Coryell County on a 100-acre farm north of Killeen on land that is now part of Fort Hood. She left Earth December 15, 2016 from her home on Lakeview Loop.
Mildred’s parents were Samuel Ross Carter and Stacy Almira Bay Carter. She had four beloved brothers: Cecil, Elton, Artie, and Dee. The only girl, Mildred was in the middle. After hard times caused the Carters to lose their farm, they moved to Killeen. Mildred and her brothers walked to school, worked cotton fields, and supported each other through childhood and as adults. She often called her childhood simple and carefree. She credited her parents with harmony and hard work and said that her brothers and she didn’t realize they were poor.
Mildred graduated as valedictorian from Killeen High School in 1936. Although she had a number of scholarship offers, both the times of the Great Depression and her young age of sixteen caused her to delay college until she was in her sixties and earned an associate’s degree from Central Texas College.
Mildred met Jack Cloud, a stock farmer at the time and later a realtor, developer, and property appraiser, at a Christmas party in December 1940. She drew the gift Jack brought, he asked her out the following Saturday, and she married the man she considered “one of the two best catches in Bell County” at the red brick First Baptist Church Killeen on August 28, 1941. They spent 36 years together until Jack’s untimely death in 1977.
After buying a typewriter and teaching herself to type, Mildred worked in a local insurance office. After marriage she worked as a farmer’s wife and then with Jack in their businesses. She also worked in personnel in Civil Service at Fort Hood and Killeen Base, where she helped many people find jobs. For most of her married years she prepared income tax returns after hours and used that money to ensure all four children received college degrees. After Jack’s death, Mildred took his place as a partner in several business ventures, including hotels and other developments and investments.
Over 97 years Mildred made a number of contributions to her church and her community. She was part of the Killeen Downtown Reinvestment Committee that acquired Avenue D from KISD. She worked to obtain historical markers for Killeen, especially that Blackburn Cabin, which was purchased by Jack and her and given to the city as one of the first homes in Bell County. She served on the Killeen Sesquicentennial Committee and the Killeen Centennial Committee. She was a founding board member for the KISD Education Foundation. She faithfully served her church as a Sunday school teacher, money counter, and building committee member for First Baptist’s new building.
Mildred was Globe Chapter American Business Women of the World Woman of the Year. She was one of the early recipients of the KISD Distinguished Alumni awards.
Until she was well into her nineties, Mildred remained involved in business interests and continued to serve her community.
Mildred is survived by children Allen Cloud and his wife Virginia of Killeen, Artie Cloud and his wife Jean of Houston, Jacqueline Cloud Hoover and her husband John of Killeen, and Betty Cloud Donald and her husband Randy of Bryan as well as nine grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to consider a donation to First Baptist Killeen Building Committee in Mildred’s name.
Services are arranged by Crawford Bowers and will occur at First Baptist Killeen on Saturday, December 17 at 11:00 and following at Killeen City Cemetery.
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