Laura Jean McCloud passed away at St. Joseph Medical Center on February 18, 2026, after a period of declining health as several organs weakened to the point of no longer being able to sustain life. Laura was born on May 18, 1935, at the old Silver Cross Hospital, Joliet, as Albert O. Sr. and Jean Gairns (Grant) McCloud's first-born child.

Laura was welcomed into broad-based family groups, as Albert's extended family comprised seven siblings, most except him farmers in Will and surrounding counties, while Jean's family of six siblings were more closely located across Joliet. This meant there were numerous family social opportunities for summer picnics and gatherings for holiday celebrations.

In her childhood, Laura had many cousins to play with as well as three brothers. Her third brother, Don, was hopefully to have been a sister, but no such luck! Laura always liked to "complain" of having to "endure" a fourth brother, as Cousin John Lawson joined our family following the unexpected death of both of his parents. In any case, Laura had brothers to tease her and cousins to play with as she grew up. She could often be heard complaining, "Mother, the boys-- insert any name-are scaring, chasing, bothering Toby," her cat.

Laura grew up in the First Presbyterian Church of Joliet and attended Public Schools-Farragut through Grade School and Junior High, followed by Joliet Township High School. While in high school, Laura was active in GAA and the choir program, singing in the A Cappella Choir as a senior. She graduated from JT in 1953 and enrolled in Joliet Junior College, graduating in spring 1955.

Laura spent one high-school summer working at one of the Presbyterian church camps in Saugatuck, Michigan. She especially liked her first job as a clerk at Straka's Dry Cleaners located in the "new" Westside Shopping Center on W. Jefferson St., virtually across the street from home. After graduating from JJC, Laura interviewed for a position with Commonwealth Edison and was hired shortly thereafter in 1955. She remained with ComEd for her entire career, working in the Joliet office for many years before transferring to the Harvey office and, finally, moving again to the Ottawa office. Each move was aimed at solving operational problems or opening new office management units, which Laura seemed to especially enjoy. She retired from ComEd in 1990.

Perhaps because Laura did not have children of her own, she easily became Aunt Laura or more the favorite "Auntie" among the gaggle of children within the growing families as her brothers and cousins brought a next generation of children into the world. Laura was also known to appreciate a good party. She began living away from home when she moved to West Pines Apartments with roommate Ms. Elaine Carrier. She often recalled fun times they had in ComEd's Bowling league and the many good times at the Town & Country Bowling Alley on West Jefferson Street. At some point, Laura and Elaine paired with another ComEd employee, Ann Louise, to become the fearsome threesome in the local bowling world.

Laura experienced an important change-in-life focus in the mid-1960's when Dad retired from the Dixon IL office of Northern Illinois Gas. He found and purchased the lot (about 5 acres) and buildings of the Beach farm, south and west of Rochelle. "The farm" became a new focal point for all the family. At that time, Laura was living in Dwight and often drove to the farm on weekends and other breaks. The farm became the way-stop and gathering place for immediate family in life transitions and a general gathering and picnic place for extended family throughout each summer.

When Laura retired from ComEd in 1990, she moved to the farm with Dad, enjoying an entirely new community in and around the Rochelle, Ashton and Dixon, Illinois area. Sadly, as Dad's health began to decline, Laura made the decision to return to Joliet to be closer to advanced hospitals and health care. With the sale of the farm property, Laura purchased a condominium on Joliet's far west side in the Country Glenn development.

On returning to Joliet, one of Laura's first actions was to join Westminster Presbyterian Church located just off Larkin Ave. Her church and her swimming groups (at the Galowich family YMCA) were two of her most fulfilling activities for this renewed Joliet period. In 2018 Laura sold her condominium and moved to an apartment at Willow Falls Senior Center in Crest Hill.

Laura lived a full and active life in several different areas across northcentral Illinois. Meanwhile her brother, the one that was supposed to be a sister, had built an international life that provided two opportunities for Laura to enjoy international travel. Her first trip, in August 1990, included Laura and Albert (Dad) along with Don, Carol and their children traveling to Scotland, and additionally for the second half of the trip, linking up with nephew Jared and niece Becca McCloud, children of brother James and Susan McCloud. The trip circled the perimeter of Scotland, spending time on the Isle of Skye, home of the McCloud Clan before continuing down to the Village of Knockando and Grantown-on-Spey, the home region of the Grant Clan. A highlight of the Clan Grant area was a visit to the Kirk (church) that our grandfather, Charles James Hay Grant, attended as a boy and young man before emigrating to Canada in 1869.

More recently in 2005, Laura and Brother John Lawson flew to Malaysia where Don and Carol were living at the time and spent two extraordinary weeks immersed in Southeast Asian food, sights and elephants. Laura needed an occasional "hamburger fix" after numerous strange dishes and tastes but thrilled at the unique sights. Without doubt, the most extraordinary adventure was riding an elephant into a river and scrubbing the beast as it contentedly lay on its side in the water.

Laura is survived by two brothers and three sisters-in-law: Donald G. Sr. and Carol M. McCloud and John W. and Diana J. Lawson, Sister-in-law Susan McCloud; several cousins: Donald J. Jones and Margaret Jones; James Kaffer and Cathleen Kaffer; Mary Ann Mudrock; Phyllis Underwood (Bly), and numerous nieces and nephews.

Laura has been proceeded in death by her parents, Albert Oliver. Sr. and Jean G. McCloud; two brothers: James W. McCloud and Albert O. Jr. and sister-in-law June E. McCloud; Cousins: Wilma, Oliver and Willam McKlintock; Richard and Robert Barkley; Jean, Lois, Clive and Martha Lawson; Charles Adkins and Jeanne Adkins Hague; George Grant; Jay Kaffer and Mary Kaffer Bernickus, and several additional nieces and nephews.

Visitation will take place at the Carlson-Holmquist-Sayles Funeral Home, 2320 Black Road, Joliet, from 4:00PM to 7:00PM on Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026. A funeral service will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church on Wednesday, March 4th at 10:00AM. Burial will immediately follow at Willard Grove Cemetery, 24301 S. Ford Ave., Channahon IL 60410.