Basic Information
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Noel J. Mickelson |
| Also Known As | “Noni” |
| Birth | Mid-1940s (often listed as 1943), Midwest U.S. (frequently cited as Iowa) |
| Heritage | Danish and Ashkenazi Jewish |
| Education | Colorado State University, Fine Arts |
| Occupations | Artist, equestrian; creative and hands-on craftsperson |
| Spouses | John Amos (m. 1965; div. 1975); later remarried to a special-effects engineer who worked at Disney |
| Children | Shannon Amos (b. 1966); Kelly Christopher “K.C.” Amos (b. 1970) |
| Notable Context | Interracial marriage prior to nationwide legalization in 1967 |
| Later Health | Family accounts describe major complications following a 1996 surgery |
| Passing | Circa 2016–2017 (noted within family tributes) |
Early Life and Heritage
Noel J. Mickelson’s story begins in America’s heartland, with roots tracing to Danish and Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry. Those threads of identity formed a tapestry that would later influence her creative eye, her horsewoman’s poise, and her sense of resilience. She studied fine arts at Colorado State University, where the wide sky and sloping foothills seemed to echo her quiet determination. The young artist rode horses, built things with her hands, and shaped her life with the same care she brought to brushstrokes and leather tack.
Colorado Years and Meeting John Amos
At Colorado State, Noel met John Amos, an aspiring athlete and future actor whose charisma matched her steadiness. They married in 1965. Those college years were less about spotlight and more about service and survival; early on, the pair worked in social contexts and steadily navigated the practicalities of young adulthood. The union would soon be tested by forces larger than themselves—stigma, law, and the shifting American landscape.
Interracial Love in a Pre-Loving America
Noel and John’s marriage predated Loving v. Virginia (1967), the Supreme Court decision that invalidated bans on interracial marriage nationwide. In 1965, their marriage was both deeply personal and quietly defiant. Loving reshaped the legal map two years later, but before that, couples like Noel and John lived between the lines—sometimes welcomed, sometimes warned, often watched. Their partnership was a lantern in a dim corridor, illuminating what courage looks like when the law trails behind love.
Motherhood and a Creative Household
Two children followed in quick arcs: Shannon in 1966, and Kelly Christopher—better known as K.C.—around 1970. Noel’s home blended the practical with the poetic: horses, canvases, and carpentry joined family dinners and school projects. Her creativity wasn’t only on paper; it lived in saddles, fence posts, and the rituals of raising children with care. As John’s career grew—from stage and television to film—the family’s orbit widened. Yet Noel remained a steady center, part artist, part equestrian, part anchor.
Separation and Life’s Next Chapter
In 1975, Noel and John divorced. The split, according to family accounts, coincided with a turbulent time that included personal and emotional strain. Noel moved forward, remarried, and built a life on a California ranch with her new husband, who worked in special effects at Disney. This chapter showed her adaptability: she found new routines, new surroundings, and continued to balance the practical and the artistic. Life on the ranch offered a rhythm of dust and sunshine, its own cadence of work, rest, and recommitment to family.
Health Challenges and Quiet Bravery
In 1996, family narratives recount that Noel faced serious medical complications following a surgery, reportedly leaving her blind and quadriplegic. The severity of those changes would bend anyone’s life into a new shape. Through this period, the family’s story emphasizes Noel’s endurance—an interior strength that’s less about grand gestures and more about the daily act of continuing. Her later years, marked by profound physical limitations, became a testament to perseverance and the bonds between parent and child.
A Legacy Living Through Her Children
Noel’s legacy appears most clearly in her children. Shannon, the elder, is a writer-producer and wellness entrepreneur who often reflects on her mother’s influence—creativity, grit, a sense of cultural identity braided from Danish and Jewish roots. K.C., a filmmaker and director, carries forward a visual legacy, threading family history into creative works and public tributes. Their careers and public lives orbit the star of their parents’ journey but shine on their own terms.
Noel’s story is also woven into John’s. As his career flourished—Good Times, Roots, Coming to America—Noel remained part of the foundational narrative. She was there for beginnings, for the early moves, for the children who would one day walk between sets and studios. Later, as the family navigated disagreements and reconciliations, her memory became a touchstone—something constant amid evolving circumstances.
Timeline Highlights
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| Early–Mid 1960s | Studies fine arts at Colorado State University; meets John Amos |
| 1965 | Marries John Amos |
| 1966 | Birth of daughter, Shannon |
| 1967 | Loving v. Virginia legalizes interracial marriage nationwide |
| 1970 | Birth of son, Kelly Christopher “K.C.” |
| 1975 | Divorce from John Amos |
| Post-1975 | Remarries; life on a California ranch with a Disney special-effects engineer |
| 1996 | Family accounts describe major surgical complications |
| 2016–2017 | Passing noted in family tributes |
The Family Table
| Family Member | Relation to Noel | Notable Details |
|---|---|---|
| John Amos | Former spouse | Actor; married 1965, divorced 1975 |
| Shannon Amos | Daughter | Writer-producer; wellness and travel ventures; born 1966 |
| K.C. (Kelly Christopher) Amos | Son | Filmmaker/director; born circa 1970 |
| Later Spouse | Husband | Special-effects engineer at Disney; life on a California ranch |
FAQ
Who is Noel J Mickelson?
Noel J. Mickelson was an artist and equestrian best known as John Amos’s first wife and the mother of Shannon and K.C. Amos.
When did she marry John Amos?
They married in 1965 after meeting at Colorado State University.
Did their marriage face legal hurdles?
Their interracial marriage preceded Loving v. Virginia (1967), making it socially significant in that era.
How many children did she have?
Two: Shannon Amos (born 1966) and Kelly Christopher “K.C.” Amos (born around 1970).
What did she study?
Fine arts at Colorado State University.
Did she remarry after divorcing John Amos?
Yes, she later remarried; her husband worked in special effects at Disney.
What were her interests and talents?
She was described as an artist, equestrian, and a skilled, hands-on craftsperson.
What happened to her health later in life?
Family accounts describe serious complications after a 1996 surgery.
When did she pass away?
Her passing is noted by family tributes around 2016–2017.
How is her legacy seen today?
Through the creative careers and public lives of her children, and in the enduring story of resilience her life represents.
