Clara Reece McCloud, 84, of Kingsport, Tennessee, passed away peacefully on June 6, 2024. She was proceeded in death by her husband, Thomas McCloud, in 2019. 

She was born to James and Veda Taylor on December 4, 1939, in Sullivan County, TN. 

As a young girl, Clara was known locally for gathering potatoes from her family’s farm and delivering them to a homebound lady who lived near her home on Summerville Road. Neighbors who saw her walking the route nicknamed her “Tater,” by which some people still refer to her today.  She loved music—teaching herself to play piano by ear at a young age and eventually becoming a church pianist. Anytime you stopped by her home, old country music would be playing in the background. She had a deep love of nature and animals—the bird feeder was always full, and she spent her final years with her adopted, stray cat, TJ, that “found her” soon after the passing of her husband. She also enjoyed spending time with her family, going on car rides in the mountains and to Summerville Baptist Church every Wednesday and Sunday, and talking with her friends and family on the phone.  

She is deeply mourned and survived by her daughters Diane (Frank) Weeks, and Sherry Ballard (Phillip Yearwood); step daughter, Deborah Cox; grandchildren, Stephen (Rachel) Ballard, Christopher Ballard, Whitney Flanagan (Jeremy Sweat), Andrew Flanagan, Michael (Loren) McCloud, Jon McCloud, Casey McCloud, Gabriel Searle, Rachel Searle; great grandchildren, Ethan Ballard, Jovie Ballard, Conor McCloud, Cielle McCloud, Hayden McCloud; sisters, Nancy (Orville) Cox, Betty (Morris) Dutton; and many beloved in-laws, nieces and nephews.  

She was proceeded in death by her husband, Thomas McCloud; son, Daniel McCloud; granddaughter, Cara McCloud; brothers Thomas Taylor, Douglas Tylor and Donnie Taylor.  

Please join us in celebrating her life on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, from 5-7 p.m. with a service at 7 p.m. at Carter-Trent Funeral Home in Kingsport with Pastor Mike Anglin officiating.  A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 13, 2024, at Mountain Home National Cemetery in Johnson City. For those wishing to attend the graveside service, please arrive at the cemetery at 10:50 am. 

To view tribute video please click here.

Carter-Trent Funeral Home Kingsport is serving the McCloud family.