Noel J. Mickelson was an American artist and equestrian best known as the first wife of actor John Amos. The two met at Colorado State University and married in 1965, when interracial marriage was still illegal in several U.S. states. They had two children, Shannon Amos and K.C. Amos. Noel later lived a private life and died in December 2016.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Noel J. Mickelson |
| Nickname | Noni |
| Known for | John Amos’ first wife |
| Birthplace | Reportedly Estherville, Iowa |
| Nationality | American |
| Heritage | Danish and Ashkenazi Jewish |
| Education | Colorado State University |
| Field of study | Fine arts |
| Profession | Artist and equestrian |
| Former husband | John Amos |
| Marriage | 1965–1975 |
| Children | Shannon Amos and K.C. Amos |
| Second husband | Reportedly a Disney special-effects engineer |
| Date of death | December 2016 |
| Net worth | Not reliably known |
Early Life and Background
Noel J. Mickelson was reportedly born in Estherville, Iowa. Her exact date of birth and age have not been publicly confirmed.
Her daughter Shannon Amos described Noel as being of Danish and Ashkenazi Jewish descent. Other reports connect her Jewish family roots to Eastern Europe.
Little is publicly known about Noel’s parents, siblings, or childhood.
Education and Meeting John Amos
Noel attended Colorado State University, where she studied fine arts.
She met John Amos while they were students there. John was studying sociology and playing football at the university.
According to their daughter Shannon, Noel and John quickly developed a relationship after meeting in college.
Marriage to John Amos
Noel and John married in 1965.
Their marriage was unusual for the time because Noel was white and John was Black. Interracial marriage was still illegal in several American states.
Two years later, the U.S. Supreme Court’s Loving v. Virginia decision in 1967 struck down state laws banning interracial marriage.
Their daughter Shannon later spoke about growing up with parents of different racial backgrounds. She said that as a child she simply saw them as her parents rather than thinking about the difference in their skin color.
Life in New Jersey and California
After college, Noel and John reportedly moved to New Jersey and worked as social workers.
noel j mickelson supported John’s early interest in becoming a professional football player. When his football career did not develop as planned, he began exploring stand-up comedy and acting.
John later explained that Noel understood his creative ambitions because she was an artist herself.
Their daughter Shannon was born in New Jersey in 1966.
The family later moved to Los Angeles after John began booking television commercials. They eventually lived in Sylmar, California, where Noel and John raised their children on a property with horses.
Noel J. Mickelson’s Career
noel j mickelson had creative and outdoor interests of her own.
She is most consistently described as an artist and equestrian. Her fine arts studies at Colorado State University also support her background in art.
Other reports have described her as a craftswoman, carpenter, architect, and environmentalist. However, there is less public information confirming these roles.
Her daughter Shannon has said Noel encouraged creativity in both of her children.
Her Love of Horses
Noel was an avid equestrian.
The family’s California property reportedly had horses, allowing her interest in riding and animals to become part of family life.
Her love of nature is also mentioned in accounts about her life, although detailed records of equestrian competitions or professional achievements are not available.
Noel and John Amos’ Children
noel j mickelson and John had two children:
- Shannon Amos
- Kelly Christopher “K.C.” Amos
Both children later built careers in creative industries.
They have also shared photographs and memories of their mother on social media.
Who Is Shannon Amos?
Shannon Amos was born in New Jersey in 1966.
She later worked behind the scenes in entertainment as a writer and producer. Reports say she worked with media companies including BET and MTV.
She is also identified as the founder of Afterglow Multimedia, LLC.
Shannon has spoken publicly about her parents’ interracial marriage and her mother’s influence on her life.
She has credited noel j mickelson with helping her and K.C. learn to express themselves creatively.
Who Is K.C. Amos?
Kelly Christopher Amos, better known as K.C. Amos, was born in 1970.
He works as a director, producer, and video editor.
His projects have included The Watermelon Heist, Tamales and Gumbo, and Hauntsville. He has also been described as a Grammy-nominated director.
K.C. has shared old family photographs of Noel on social media. He referred to his mother as Noni and recalled that she expected the family to have dinner by 6 p.m.
Racism Faced by the Family
noel j mickelson and John’s interracial relationship took place during a period of major racial change in the United States.
Their daughter Shannon has discussed some of the racism the family experienced.
She recalled one incident in which an armed racist reportedly pointed a gun at her father. Shannon said the experience led her parents to explain racism to her when she was young.
Noel Mickelson and John Amos’ Divorce
Noel and John separated in 1975, about ten years after their marriage.
Shannon was around nine years old at the time.
According to Shannon’s later account, the separation was difficult for Noel. One report also states that Noel obtained a restraining order against John.
Detailed reasons for their divorce have not been publicly explained, so claims about what caused their marriage to end should be treated carefully.
Noel’s Second Marriage
noel j mickelson later remarried.
According to Shannon, her second husband worked as a special-effects engineer for Disney.
His name is not given in the available information.
noel j mickelson and her second husband reportedly lived on a ranch in California.
Her Health Problems
During her later life, Noel reportedly experienced serious medical complications following a hysterectomy.
According to an account from Shannon reported in the media, the complications left Noel blind and quadriplegic.
Her second husband reportedly cared for her following these health problems.
A photograph shared by K.C. in 2014 showed Noel with Shannon and K.C. during this period of her life.
Noel J. Mickelson’s Death
noel j mickelson died in December 2016.
She was reportedly surrounded by her family when she died.
Her exact date of death and age at the time have not been reliably confirmed.
Near the end of her life, Noel reportedly expressed regret that she had not been able to travel and see more of the world.
Shannon then promised to take her mother’s ashes around the world. She reportedly began fulfilling that promise in January 2017.
Who Was John Amos?
John Amos was an American actor whose career lasted more than five decades.
He became widely known for playing James Evans Sr. on the sitcom Good Times. He also received a Primetime Emmy nomination for his work in the television miniseries Roots.
His other television and film credits included:
- The Mary Tyler Moore Show
- The West Wing
- The District
- Coming to America
- Die Hard 2
- Coming 2 America
noel j mickelson was with John during the early years before his major Hollywood success.
After their divorce, John later married actress Lillian Lehman, but that marriage also ended.
John Amos died on August 21, 2024, at age 84.
Noel J. Mickelson’s Net Worth
Noel J. Mickelson’s personal net worth was never reliably reported.
Although she worked as an artist and had other creative interests, there is no trustworthy public information about her income, property, or assets.
Financial estimates associated with John Amos or their children should not be treated as Noel’s personal wealth.
Interesting Facts
- Noel was John Amos’ first wife.
- She was reportedly born in Iowa.
- She was of Danish and Ashkenazi Jewish heritage.
- Noel studied fine arts at Colorado State University.
- She met John Amos while they were college students.
- Noel and John married in 1965.
- Their marriage took place before interracial marriage became legal nationwide.
- They had two children, Shannon and K.C. Amos.
- Noel was an artist and avid equestrian.
- The family lived on a property with horses in California.
- Noel and John separated in 1975.
- She later married a Disney special-effects engineer.
- Medical complications reportedly left her blind and quadriplegic.
- Noel died in December 2016.
- Her daughter Shannon later began taking her ashes around the world.
- Noel’s exact date of birth, age, and net worth are not reliably known.
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