Gilbert Martin Cloud's Obituary
Gilbert Martin Cloud, “Gil”, 78 years old, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, passed peacefully from this life on February 22, 2025, after a yearlong battle with multiple health issues. Gil was born on July 23, 1946, in Hastings, Nebraska to Bonnie Ray and Bentley Harvey Cloud.
Gil’s father’s profession took them many places during his childhood. He and his family lived in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; Louisville, Kentucky; Mexico City, Mexico, Hastings, Nebraska; and Houston, Texas before moving to Tulsa, Oklahoma during the summer before his junior year in high school. Little did anyone know that moving to Tulsa would lead him to meeting and marrying the love of his life, Vickie Dianna (Tull) Cloud. Gil and Vickie met on a blind date when they were 16 years old. Soon after high school graduation, when they were just 19 years old, Gil and Vickie were married in Bristow, Oklahoma on January 22, 1966.
Gil was a multisport athlete at WRHS and also participated in other extracurricular activities such as Roundup, Senior Board and was a member of the Honor Roll. He would continue his athletic career at the University of Oklahoma, Cameron University, the University of New Mexico, and would complete his bachelor’s degree from the University of Tulsa. He also earned his master’s degree at Kansas State and continued his academic career by earning graduate hours from Pittsburg State as well. Vickie was right along beside him cheering him on and packing up the house each time they decided to hit the road.
Gil’s early career was spent coaching and teaching at the collegiate and high school levels. In between coaching moves, he and Vickie added to their family with the birth of their daughter Kimberly Anne. His final stint on the sidelines was at McAlester High School, when he got the call to move back to Tulsa to take the job as the Director of Athletics at Union High School. That spring, the Cloud Family grew a little more as Gilbert Matthew arrived, and their family was complete.
Gil would go on to lead the athletic department at Union from 1976-1990. During that time, one of his major accomplishments was the construction of a state-of-the-art football stadium…the first in the state of Oklahoma to have turf for the playing surface. Following his time at Union, he would continue his career in athletics administration at Guthrie Public Schools, Northeastern State University, Arkansas Tech University, Upper Iowa University, and finally Tulsa Public Schools. He retired in 2021 after serving 51 years as an educator. His accomplishments and accolades speak to his dedication and determination to leave everything better than he found it. Gil is a member of several Halls of Fame: Northeastern State University Athletics Hall of Fame, Union Public Schools Athletics Hall of Fame, the Will Rogers High School Hall of Fame, the NIAAA Hall of Fame, the OIAAA Hall of Fame, and was awarded the Tulsa World Lifetime Achievement Award.
Gil loved Vickie, his family, and sports. He was an avid golfer and loved nothing more than the times he was able to watch his grandsons play football and baseball and his granddaughter play fastpitch softball and basketball. He was a die-hard OU fan and especially loved watching OU football and softball. He will be remembered for his unwavering dedication to education, his love for his family, and his lasting impact on the communities he served. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
Gill is preceded in death by his parents Bentley Harvey Cloud and Bonnie Ray (Mathews) Cloud. Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 59 years, Vickie Dianna (Tull) Cloud; his children, Dr. Kimberly Anne Williams and her husband John Williams; Gilbert Matthew Cloud and his wife Natalie Neal Cloud; three grandchildren: Jeffery Logan Teel and Matthew Landon Teel (Kimberly’s sons) and Kylee Anne Cloud (Matt’s daughter); his sister, Marsha Fowler; sisters in-law: Linda Wilson and husband Ted; Susan Cobb; along with numerous nieces and nephews.
A visitation to come and pay respect to Gil and his family will be held on Friday, February 28, 2025, from 4PM-7PM at Floral Haven Funeral Home. A celebration of Gil’s life will take place on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at 12PM at Tulsa Will Rogers Gymnasium.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested a donation be made to one of the following: NSU Athletic Department, Tahlequah Schools Athletic Department, or the Tulsa Public Schools Legends Foundation.
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