Carol McLean Stroud

Carol McLean Stroud, 84, passed peacefully on April 30, 2022, just days after her 84th birthday in Rockwall, Texas.

The family will receive guests from 6pm to 7pm on Tuesday, May 3, 2022 at Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia in Amarillo. Funeral services will follow in the funeral home’s Brentwood Chapel on Wednesday, May 4, 2022 at 1pm with Reverend Chris Condit of Hillside Christian Church presiding. Interment will follow in Llano cemetery.

Carol was born to Virginia Francis McLean and Will D. McLean, Jr. on April 22, 1938, in Waco, Texas. During World War II, Carol and her mother lived with William and Marie Francis, Carol’s maternal grandparents. Will D. was stationed in England serving as a B-17 pilot, who flew missions over Europe.

After the war, the family moved to Amarillo, Texas, where Carol’s sister, Cheryl Victoria McLean was born. Although they were 10 years apart, Carol and Vicki were extremely close and remained so throughout Carol’s life.

Carol and her family attended Amarillo First Christian Church. Carol graduated from Sam Houston Junior High and Amarillo High School, where she made several life-long friends.

Carol met and fell in love with Richard Ray Stroud, son of family friends J. Ernest Stroud, Sr. and Nell Stroud. Carol and Richard were married June 13, 1956, at First Christian Church in Amarillo. Their first home was an apartment in Boulder, Colorado, where they both attended the University of Colorado.

Carol and Richard’s first child, Carol Cynthia, was born a year later. A second daughter, Kimberly Rae, followed, and twin boys William Gregory and Michael Jeffrey rounded out the family two years after that.

With four children to care for, Carol relished her roles as mother, teacher and playmate. She always said that she grew up with her children. She had no problem getting down on the floor and playing. Kids first and housework second.

Carol and Richard were active in the church and encouraged the children to participate as well. Carol was part of the Women’s Circle and supported missionary work.

She encouraged her children to take part in sports and scouting. In fact, she served both as a Brownie leader and Cub Scout den mother.

Carol and her family moved around the country over the years, living in Colorado, Washington, Maryland, Texas, Florida, Arizona, and finally moving back to Amarillo in 1977.

While living in Florida, Carol welcomed new residents to the neighborhood as a Welcome Wagon representative. In Phoenix, Carol helped Richard start an employment/recruitment agency called CM of Phoenix. After moving back to Amarillo in the 70s, Carol helped Richard run their record store, Sound Track Records. Carol also worked at Colbert’s department store and Bivins Nursing Home.

Carol retired in the 90s and became a doting grandmother to six grandchildren. She enjoyed spending time with them, especially at the holidays and during summer vacations. She played golf and took trips to the mountains with Richard.

In September 2021, Carol and Richard moved down to assisted living in Rockwall, Texas, to be near their daughter Kim.

Carol was preceded in death by her parents, Will D. and Virginia McLean, father-in-law and mother-in-law J. Ernest and Nell Stroud, sister-in-law Sherelle Stroud Roach, brother-in-law J. Ernest Stroud, Jr. and grandson Daniel Stroud. She is survived by her husband Richard Stroud; sister Vicki McLean; children Cyndi Bloom (Jim), Kimberly Rosson (Alex), Greg Stroud (Diamond “Bunny”), and Mike Stroud (Deb); grandchildren Kayleigh Bloom, Alexis Stroud, Tyler Stroud, Ryan Stroud and Sean Rosson; great-grandson Reuben Lynchbloom; sister-in-law Gaynor Tucker, brother-in-law Timothy Stroud (Kitty Houlehen); nephews Charles Culp, Christopher McLean (Dawn), and Dustin Tucker (Peter Marro); and great-nephews Connor McLean and Harrison Marro Tucker and great-nieces Daelynn McLean and Destiny McLean.