Amanda Rhea-Rice Cloud

Amanda Rhea Rice Cloud passed away and went to be with Jesus on Thursday, August 24, 2023 in Beaumont, TX.  She was a cherished and kind daughter, sister, aunt & friend who will never be forgotten.  Amanda was born in Baptist Hospital of Beaumont, TX on January 3, 1971 to Phyllis June (Streetman) Rice & the late Raymond Edward Rice.  Amanda lived with her family in Granite City, IL as a toddler and then started Kindergarten in Jasper, TX, where she also competed in the Little Miss Jasper pageant.  Amanda transferred to Lumberton in 2nd grade and then to Silsbee in 5th grade.   She was the most thoughtful daughter and best big sister, always helping her Mama and entertaining her little sister, Melissa.

Amanda excelled in academics, loved playing the trumpet and was Drum Major in Silsbee Middle School marching band.  In high school, Amanda performed as a twirler, maintained high honors and graduated from Silsbee in 1989.  Amanda later attended East Texas Baptist University, majoring in Biology, where she met her former husband, the late Kevin Shawn Cloud of Alexandria, LA.  After marriage, Amanda moved to Alexandria, LA and transferred to Louisiana College to complete her bachelors degree, working full time and graduating in 1998.  She then worked for the State of Louisiana for many years, but moved back to Silsbee in 2001 following her divorce.  Amanda had a long health battle with a significant decline in 2023.  In her final few months, Amanda resided at the Birchwood of Beaumont, a nursing and rehabilitation center.

Amanda was a born again Christian; however, her health prevented regular in-person attendance at Pinecrest Baptist Church of Silsbee where she was a member.  She loved to spend time running errands with her Mama, calling family and friends on the phone, and reading Nora Roberts’ novels all while sipping Diet Dr. Peppers.  Amanda dearly loved each friend and family member who was part of her calling circle, and looked forward to each new call to catch up.  She also enjoyed several online Bible studies and playing along with game shows like The Price is Right & Jeopardy with her Aunt Wanda.  Amanda had travelled from San Francisco, CA to New York, NY with her Mama, and many states in between while road-tripping with her Aunt Sandra, but her favorite place was Disney World in Florida where she had honeymooned.  

Amanda never had children of her own, but she adored her nephew & nieces, always celebrating each of their accomplishments.  She was extremely proud of CJ & Cady, senior pre-Physical Therapy Kinesiology students at Abilene Christian University, and Camryn & Carstyn, students in Lumberton and youth soccer players for Hardin County.

Amanda is survived by her mother, Phyllis June (Streetman) Rice of Silsbee, TX; sister, Melissa Dawn (Rice) Chance with husband, Clifford Chance and their children “CJ” Clifford Chance, Jr., Cady Chance, Camryn Chance, and Carstyn Chance all of Lumberton, TX; niece Heather (Reynolds) with husband Brian Shockley and their son Tyler of Rocky Mount, VA; nephew Matthew Reynolds of VA; step-brother, Albert Nolan, Jr. with wife Tonya and their children Brock and Austin of Mire, LA. 

Amanda is preceded in death by her grandparents, and her father, Raymond Edward Rice of Toledo Bend, LA; half-sister, Sheila Gail (Rice) Reynolds, of Rocky Mount, VA;  half-brother, Jude Raymond Rice of Rayne, LA; and step-mother, Annette (Sonnier) Rice, of Rayne, LA.

Amanda will be laid to rest adjacent to her grandfather at Cunningham Cemetery in Silsbee, TX.

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