Noel J. Mickelson lived a quiet but meaningful life. Many people know her as the first wife of actor John Amos from Good Times and Roots. But Noel was more than a famous name’s partner. She was an artist, a skilled horse rider, a supportive partner in the early years of John’s career, and a caring mother. Her story shows love, courage, and strength through both happy and hard times.
Personl Information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Noel J. (“Noni”) Mickelson |
| Known for | Artist and equestrian; first wife of actor John Amos |
| Birthplace | Iowa, USA (family describe her as from a small town) |
| Education | Colorado State University, fine arts (met John there) |
| Marriage | Married John Amos in 1965; divorced in 1975 |
| Children | Shannon Amos (born 1966) and K.C. Amos (born 1970) |
| Work & interests | Artist; early work as a social worker; award-winning horse rider |
| Heritage (per family) | Danish and Ashkenazi Jewish background |
| Later life | Remarried a Disney special-effects engineer; lived on a California ranch |
| Major health event | 1996 surgery complications led to blindness and quadriplegia |
| Died | 2016 (family tributes note December 2016) |
Early life and meeting John Amos
Family accounts say Noel grew up in a small Iowa town. As a young woman she studied fine arts at Colorado State University. There she met John Amos, who was a student-athlete. Their meeting at CSU began a love story that would face real social tests for the time.
Noel and John married in 1965. At that time, interracial marriage was still illegal in many U.S. states. Only in 1967 did the Supreme Court’s decision in Loving v. Virginia end state bans on interracial marriage across the country. Their 1965 wedding therefore happened during a period of legal and social pressure on couples like them, which makes their commitment even more notable.
Building a young family
After college, Noel and John moved to his home region in New Jersey and both worked as social workers. Soon John tried to enter pro football, and later turned to performing. Noel encouraged his creative path. Her background in art helped her understand his dream, and she supported the move as he chased work in entertainment.
The couple later moved to Los Angeles when John began getting roles on television. They raised their children in the Sylmar area of the San Fernando Valley, where Noel kept horses and spent time riding. This period mixed the growth of John’s career with family life and Noel’s love of animals and the outdoors.
Artist, equestrian, and “steady heart” at home
Noel is remembered by her children as an artist and a skilled equestrian. Family posts and tributes describe her as winning riding awards and being a confident endurance rider. These details show someone who found joy in craft and in the natural world, not only in public attention.
While John’s public profile grew, Noel largely stayed private. People close to the family have said she was creative and free-spirited. She balanced practical work in the early years with her art and riding. This side of Noel helps us see her as a whole person, not just “the actor’s wife.”
Children and family life
Noel and John had two children. Their daughter, Shannon, was born in New Jersey in 1966. Their son, Kelly Christopher “K.C.”, was born in 1970. Both later worked in creative fields. Shannon became a producer and later a wellness business founder. K.C. became a director and editor and earned a Grammy nomination for a long-form music video in 1996. These paths reflect the creative environment their parents built.
The family also moved when work required it. Shannon has said her mother moved with her to Los Angeles to support John’s career in its early stages, a choice that mixed love, risk, and hope.
Marriage, change, and privacy
Noel and John divorced in 1975, after ten years of marriage. Their split stayed mostly private, and Noel continued her life away from the spotlight. The important public facts are simple: they married in 1965, had two children, and divorced in 1975. Both remained loving parents.
Heritage and identity
Family posts have described Noel as being of Danish and Ashkenazi Jewish descent. This is one more layer to her story and to the couple’s experience as an interracial, interfaith family in the 1960s and 1970s. Their life together sat at the meeting point of race, culture, and art during a time of change in America.
Health challenges and later years
After the divorce, Noel remarried a Disney special-effects engineer. She lived on a ranch in California and stayed close to horses and nature. In 1996, she faced severe medical complications during a hysterectomy. The complications left her blind and a quadriplegic. Her second husband cared for her for years until his death.
Noel died in 2016. Family tributes shared later mark December 2016 as the month of her passing. Her children continue to honor her in posts and interviews, often recalling her love, her art, and the wisdom she gave them.
Why her story matters
Noel’s life adds a human face to a turning point in U.S. history. She and John married before Loving v. Virginia made interracial marriage legal nationwide. Their courage, and the lives they built, reflect how private choices can connect to public change. When we read about the law, it can feel distant. When we hear about a real couple like Noel and John starting their family in 1965, the history becomes real and close.
Noel also shows how “fame-adjacent” people often carry big parts of the story. She helped hold the family steady while John worked toward his goals. She was an artist and horsewoman in her own right. And when life gave her very hard health challenges, she met them with dignity, surrounded by people who loved her.
Legacy
Today, much of what we know about Noel comes from careful reporting and from her children’s public words. We learn about a woman who valued beauty, nature, and family; who supported a partner at key moments; and who left a lasting mark on her children and friends. That, in the end, is a strong legacy.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
1) Who was Noel J. Mickelson?
She was an American artist and equestrian, best known publicly as the first wife of actor John Amos and the mother of Shannon and K.C. Amos.
2) Where did she meet John Amos?
They met as students at Colorado State University. Noel studied fine arts there.
3) When did they marry and when did they divorce?
They married in 1965 and divorced in 1975.
4) Why was their 1965 marriage significant?
In 1965, interracial marriage was still illegal in many states. The Supreme Court ended those bans in 1967 with Loving v. Virginia.
5) Did Noel and John have children?
Yes. Their daughter Shannon was born in 1966, and their son K.C. was born in 1970.
6) What did Noel do besides family life?
She was an artist and a skilled horse rider. In the early years after college, both she and John also worked as social workers.
7) What is known about Noel’s heritage?
Family posts describe her as having Danish and Ashkenazi Jewish roots.
8) What challenges did she face later in life?
In 1996, complications from a hysterectomy left her blind and a quadriplegic. Her second husband cared for her for many years.
9) When did Noel pass away?
She died in 2016; family tributes note December 2016.
10) Is Noel’s exact birth date public?
A precise birth date is not confirmed by major outlets. Reports focus on her education, marriage, family, and later-life health, rather than a full birth record.
Relatable Topics
Who Is Tyna Karageorge? A Simple Look at Her Life and Legal Stories
Who Is Yulanda Wilkins? A Quiet Life Behind Tyler Perry’s Success
