Jim B Cloudt, Jr.

Jr., loving husband, dad, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, and friend to many. Jim passed away

peacefully, surrounded by his loving family on the afternoon of Tuesday, February 22, 2022, at

Cornerstone Hospital in Austin, Texas.

Jim was born on August 22, 1949, to his parents Jim B. Cloudt, Sr., and Ina Mae “Scotty” Cloudt

in San Angelo, Texas. In the early 1950s the Cloudt family moved to San Antonio where Jim

attended school, and graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1967. After graduation,

Jim moved to Dallas to attend Southern Methodist University where he ultimately received his

under-graduate, his graduate and his Law degree. After completing his law degree, Jim moved

to Austin in 1977 and began his legal career at the Railroad Commission in the Gas Utilities

Division.

In 1985, Jim left the Railroad Commission and ventured into private practice with another

lawyer, where he practiced general civil law, everything from bankruptcies to divorces, to the

occasional criminal appointments from Williamson County. One of Jim’s most notorious cases

during this time involved the temporary closing of Scholtz’s Beer Garden and Saengerrunde Hall

in 1987.

In the early 1990s, Jim began working for the F.D.I.C. where he audited and closed many banks

throughout Texas that had become insolvent. After working with the F.D.I.C. for approximately

five years, he began working at the Attorney General’s office in the Tax Litigation Division where

Jim won many high dollar verdicts for the Comptroller and the State of Texas. Jim retired from

this position in October 2018.

Jim and his wife Janet met in 1980 through a group of mutual friends while they were both

employed at the Railroad Commission. They married on September 12, 1986, at Tarrytown

United Methodist Church, and together built a wonderful life and a happy home together. During

Jim and Janet’s marriage, they enjoyed traveling, mostly to the Cayman Islands, where Janet’s

parents had a place on Seven Mile Beach. These were happy times and snorkeling became a

favorite past time for both.

Jim and Janet happily welcomed their first child, James Austin Cloudt a/k/a Jack in March of

1998. After many years of trying to conceive, Jim and Janet were thrilled to finally become

parents through adoption. Jim adored being a dad to Jack and the two of them enjoyed doing

many things together through the years. Jim participated with Boy Scout Troop 511 so he could

spend time with Jack and make sure Jack received the full benefit of being a boy scout. They

also enjoyed watching movies and TV together, and reading and discussing everyday topics

together. When Jack died suddenly in 2016, Jim was consumed with grief. He commented at

the time, “I may not have been Jack’s best friend, but he was mine.”

In 2001, Jim and Janet welcomed their amazing second child into their life, Julia Ann, a/k/a

Jules. He adored Julia and she adored him! Jim and Julia shared many conversations about

their respective positions regarding life, social justice, and law. He truly is her inspiration to

aspire to become a lawyer, too, like her dad. Jim was an amazing, loving dad to both children,

He always went above and beyond to document the development of the children, marking

heights on the closet door frame, videotaping them saying and doing funny things, and

documenting family celebrations. He embraced creating and celebrating silly family traditions,

even created an original family song that we would sing each January 1st as we would “pelt”

black-eyed peas at each other for good luck.

Jim was truly a remarkable man and a gift to our family! He was a gentleman, a wonderful

provider, a loving husband and dad, and offered great wisdom and advice to his family

whenever needed. We are deeply grateful that we had our precious Jim in our lives. He will be

dearly missed - every day.

Jim is survived by his wife of 35+ years, Janet, his daughter, Julia, his brother, Tom Cloudt,

sister-in-law, Lu Knightley, and niece Jennifer Cloudt, his sister-in-law Kay Estess and

brother-in-law, Sam Estess, sister-in-law, Nancy Thompson and brother-in-law Kelly Northam,

and several other nieces and nephews, as well as dear friends, Joe Hammer and Frankie

Vanderford.

Visitation is Sunday, February 27, at Weed, Corley, Fish on Parkcrest Drive from 4:00 - 6:00

p.m. Jim’s Celebration of Life Service is Monday, February 28th at 1:00 p.m. at Tarrytown

United Methodist Church on Exposition. The family requests that social distancing guidelines

be observed and/or to please wear a mask.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a charitable contribution to the Jack Cloudt Creative

Writing Scholarship Fund, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization (mail to 8404 Appalachian

Drive, Austin, Tx 78759) or to Tarrytown United Methodist Church in memory of Jim Cloudt, or to

the charity of your choice.