Betty Cloud

Betty Cloud, age 92, of Auburn Hills, Michigan, passed away on June 28, 2026. Betty was born to Roe and Hardy Felts on July 31, 1933, in Egypt, ‘the Promised Land,’ Arkansas. Betty's early childhood was spent on a farm; her family were sharecroppers before moving to Michigan. Betty's family came to Michigan in 1945 following the promise of a better life with General Motors. Betty graduated from Pontiac High School in 1952. After high school, Betty worked as a nurse for the Red Cross. During Betty's time as a nurse, she met the love of her life, Thurlin Cloud, on a trip to Arkansas in 1952. Thurlin was head over heels in love with Betty from the beginning. Thurlin followed Betty back to Michigan from Arkansas and stayed until she agreed to marry him. Betty and Thurlin were married on April 25, 1953, and made Pontiac Township their home.

Betty worked as secretary for the Fire Chief of Pontiac Township and continued as assistant to the Fire Marshal when the Township became the City of Auburn Hills in 1992. While working as an assistant, Betty impacted the lives of all her coworkers and the community. Betty was the happiest in her career life at the fire marshal’s office, as she felt needed and useful. It was vital to Betty that she spend her time doing work she felt was important and helpful. She loved her work so much that the only reason she wanted to stop was due to retirement.

Betty and Thurlin had built a cottage together on a private lake up north in Farwell. Betty’s retirement days were spent working on finishing the cottage and landscaping. The cottage was a labor of love for Betty; she wasn’t happy unless she was working. Always raking, pulling weeds, staining woodwork, there was always something that needed to be done, and she was not afraid to get her hands dirty or break a sweat. She never sat still; she had to keep busy! Betty left the cottage to Lorie, her daughter, for her own retirement. Betty wished for her daughter to enjoy the best of life.

Betty is preceded in death by her husband (Smokey) Thurlin E.C. Cloud, who passed on April 5, 1994. She is also preceded in death by her youngest brother, Jerry, his wife Marilyn, and their 2 children, Michael and Jera, and her oldest Brother, Darrell. Betty is survived by her daughter, Lorie Ann Miller of Farwell, MI; her two grandchildren, Nathaniel Miller of Farwell and Britney Miller Frank of Saginaw; and two great-grandchildren, Tobias Miller and Corbin Frank. Betty is also survived by Darrell’s wife, Faye Felts, and their son Jay Felts.

The family will receive friends for visitation on Saturday, July 11, 2026, from 9:30 - 11:00 am at Sparks-Griffin Funeral Home, Pontiac Chapel. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at 11:00 am at Sparks-Griffin Funeral Home. Following the service, the interment will take place at Ottawa Park Cemetery, 6180 Dixie Hwy, Village of Clarkston, MI 48346.