Tommye Lou (Bloodsworth) McCloud

If there is such of a thing as a prefect death my Mom had one. She would be 88 on June 21st. Mentally she was sharp as a tack. She was in good health and great shape physically, a size 8 (I take after my Dad). She was so positive and upbeat sometimes she really annoyed me. On Mother’s Day she told us she hadn’t been feeling good. She didn’t want to be old and sick. She just wasn’t feeling herself. She was starting to feel ready to go to heaven. On Thursday morning, May 21st. her great-grandson, Buddy found her on the floor. He lovingly picked her up and placed her on the bed. An ambulance was called. At the hospital even the doctor was surprised at the size and severity of the stroke. No chance of recovery. Working together at the funeral home we had many conversations regarding death. She always said, “When it’s my time to go let me go. Don’t keep me alive as a vegetable with a feeding tube”. I saw glimpses of hope when she would response to me. For a second I would want to change our treatment plan. Then I would remember, “Let me go”. If there are truly angels on this earth you can find them at Memorial Hermann Hospice at Business Center in Houston. There is no praise to express the kind compassion they showed to my Mom and me. They said it was their job. No, it was their heart. I know a lot of people that have that same job but they don't have that same heart. Our whole family came to see her on Monday, May 25th. to say farewell. I was with her on Tuesday, May 26th. and she was resting comfortably. Her breathing was easy and peaceful and then it just stopped. Then she saw the face of Jesus. How prefect is that!

My Mom never wanting to inconvenience anyone wanted a simple cremation with no services and to be scattered out where we live, just when we have the time. One time I told her we might want to have some kind of service of remembrance and she said, “That would be fine but she wasn’t going to go”. So we are having a Memorial Service (without her present).

My Mom, Tommye Lou McCloud passed away on the afternoon of Tuesday, May 26, 2015; at the age of 87 years, 11 months and 5 days.  She was born to James Irving and Mary Ethel Haymon Bloodsworth in Rowlands, Mississippi on June 21, 1927.

She grew up in a very poor but hard working and loving family.  She talked a lot about their survival during the depression.  She didn’t really understand the severity of the situation because nothing really changed for her family. Her grandfather owned a farm in Leesville, Louisiana.  He had crops, cows, chickens and hogs.  They traded what they had for what they needed and shared it all with those that had less.  Her grandfather and grandmother started a church and a school there.  It was one room and one teacher.  All the kids regardless of age or grade level attended and most were relatives.  It was that time during the Great Depression that my Mom learned her life long habit of helping others.

After the depression her parents moved around in search of a better life.  She said those were harder times than the depression.  Her Dad finally landed a job in a saw mill.  They lived in the town provided by the company.  She told how there were separate living quarters for the blacks and the whites.  She never did understand that because they were all friends.  They visited each others homes and attended birthdays, weddings, and funerals.  They cared for one another when new babies arrived, during illnesses and everything else.  It was during that time my Mom learned to love everybody and to hate prejudice.

After high school my Mom took a civil job on the Fort Polk Army Base in Leesville.  Being the beauty that she was the G.I.s adored her.  Her younger brother shined shoes around town for a dime.  When the soldiers realized he was her brother they started pestering him for her phone number.  When one of the G.I.s offered him a quarter for her number a new business was borne.  When my grandparent’s phone began to ring off the wall my Mom got in trouble.  She plead innocence.  With her brother’s new wealth his business venture was so discovered.  My Mom learned to always have a good sense of humor.  

My Mom and Dad got married in July of 1946.  They were married for 34 years when my Dad died suddenly from cancer in 1981.  My Mom was left with my younger brother still in junior high school.  Her father died exactly the same way four months later.  My Mom’s heart was broken; she never remarried.  She moved to South Carolina to care for her elderly Mother.  After her mother’s death she moved back to Texas.  That was an adventure; we rented a giant Ryder Truck and added a U-Haul trailer on the back and she and I drove straight through.  She helped raise Grandkids and Great-Grandkids.  She has broken her leg twice and wouldn’t go to the doctor until I made her because it was too much trouble.  She was instrumental in helping me start and grow my business. Through all her hardships, struggles, hurts and disappointments my Mom has remained strong, joyous, compassion, generous and loving to everyone that she met.  Always.

My Mom’s favorite song was My Christmas Room.  Part of the lyrics are  “Make my heart a Christmas heart that carols every day, and let it be my Christmas where good will toward men shall stay”.   That was my Mom every day of the year. She always put up her tree up early and took it down late but most of the other decorations just stayed up year round.

Over the last few days everyone has been telling me that she was wonderful Mother and she did a good job raising me.  I am ashamed to say I put up a good fight; I fought her tooth and nail.  Mom I’m sorry.  We all love you and will miss you forever. 

My Mom is preceded in death by her husband, Daniel Herbert McCloud, brother James Gaston Bloodsworth and nephew, Carl Edward McCloud. 

My Mom is survived by two sons, Randy McCloud of Rosharon, Marc and wife, Dorothy McCloud of Paletine, Texas, one daughter, Mary Appling-Cain and husband, Jeromy of Rosharon: six grandchildren, Berry Appling and wife Jennifer of Rosharon, Daniel McCloud, James McCloud and Katy Owens and husband Jesse all of Palestine: Thomas and Kaleigh Cain both of Rosharon:  four great-grandchildren, Amanda Moss, Buddy Appling, Rickey Appling and Jack Appling all of Rosharon and a new Little Boy Owens coming in October, many aunts, uncles, neices, nephews, cousins and other loving family members and friends.

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