Love doesn’t ask permission. It certainly didn’t for Noel J. Mickelson when she fell head over heels for a charming football player named John Amos back in college.
Their romance bloomed at a time when America was still grappling with the idea that love could transcend race and color.
While John Amos became a household name as the beloved patriarch on “Good Times” and the unforgettable Kunta Kinte in “Roots,” the woman who stood by his side during his early struggles remained largely in the shadows.
Early Life and Education
Born in Iowa to Danish and Ashkenazi Jewish parents, Noel J. Mickelson grew up with creativity flowing through her veins. Noel had hands that could craft beautiful art and helped her master horseback riding.
Her artistic talents eventually led her to Colorado State University, where she pursued fine arts. It was here, surrounded by textbooks and easels, that destiny decided to play matchmaker.
Career
Noel’s artistic background shaped her into a skilled carpenter and equestrian. Her carpentry skills spoke to her practical nature, while her love for horses revealed her adventurous spirit.
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As an artist, Noel understood the struggle of being creative. That’s why when John decided to chase his entertainment dreams, she was his biggest supporter. She encouraged him to leave the safety of their social work jobs to pursue acting.
Love, Family, and Marriage
When Noel met John Amos at Colorado State University, sparks flew instantly. Their daughter Shannon later described it as “love at first sight.”
They married in 1965, two years before the Supreme Court’s Loving v. Virginia decision would make interracial marriage legal nationwide. In over a dozen states, their union was still considered illegal. Yet they still said “I do” anyway.
“It was a tumultuous time in the world around them,” Shannon reflected years later. The couple faced scrutiny, judgment, and legal obstacles that most couples never encounter.
After marrying, they moved to New Jersey and worked as social workers. When John’s entertainment dreams took off, they relocated to Los Angeles. There, she helped raise their two children, Shannon and K.C., in the suburb of Sylmar.
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The marriage lasted a decade before ending in divorce in 1975. Noel later remarried a Disney special-effects engineer and lived on a California ranch.
In 1996, medical complications during a hysterectomy left Noel blind and quadriplegic. Her second husband cared for her until his death, and she passed away in 2016.
Wrap Up
Noel J. Mickelson changed history simply by choosing love over fear. She married John Amos when it took real courage to do so. Though she’s gone, her legacy lives on through Shannon and K.C., who continue to honor their mother’s memory.
Featured image source: Google
