Janis Yelton

Janis Marie Anderson Yelton, 79, of Villa Hills, KY, passed away peacefully at her home on January 20, 2026. A devoted mother, grandmother, wife, and friend, who will be deeply missed by all who loved her.

Born on July 7, 1946, in Newport, KY, Janis was the daughter of Earl and Caroline Anderson. She grew up as the middle child among five siblings, who affectionately called her “angel puss” because of her helpful disposition. She graduated from Our Lady of Providence High School in 1964.

By age 25, Janis was a single mother raising her three children—Tracy, Tara and Todd— determined to give them the best childhood possible at a time when single parenthood was not common. She and her close friend Judy (Moellman) Schofield navigated single motherhood together, spending memorable hours poolside with their kids.

Janis worked nights as a cocktail waitress at the Beverly Hills Supper Club so she could be home to see her children on and off the school bus. When her children were older, she took a job as a secretary for Clopay Corp. and Procter & Gamble, where she worked up to becoming the administrative assistant to a vice president. She passed her strong work ethic on to her children.

It was through the Procter & Gamble van pool that Janis met the love of her life, Don Yelton. After months of telling her children about “that Don that I know from the van,” they began dating and eventually married on June 25, 1988, blending their families into one. Janis had been divorced for 18 years when she married Don. Not all stepfamilies are blessed with loving relationships and mutual respect, but together they built a life filled with many family traditions. They were blessed with nine grandchildren and five great grandchildren. To them, Janis and Don were “Mimi and Pappy.”

Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at 51, Janis discovered a remarkable creative spark. She began drawing, writing and developing ideas about products and projects for Procter & Gamble – for which she received much recognition. She went on to write multiple mystery novels centered on love and acceptance. Six of her novels are available on Amazon.

She remained deeply grateful to her neurologist Dr. Alberto Espay and his team at University Hospital of Cincinnati, whose care she honored with a dedication in her book Acts of Contrition. Janis also credited her personal trainer Candy Stephens, with helping her maintain strength and determination throughout her illness, writing about her in a dedication for her novel, Whose Baby Is This?

Janis was one of the first patients in the nation to use the Parkinson’s pump to treat her disease. Together, she and Don spoke publicly about their journey with Parkinson’s, offering hope to others. She could not have ever found a more loving and supportive caregiver and husband than Don, who often said, “WE have Parkinson’s.”

She and Don cherished time spent at their beach condominiums in Pawleys Island, South Carolina, and Palm Coast, Florida, where they hosted family vacations and reunions with her high school friends, which she referred to as “The Beach Babes.” She also rekindled a treasured childhood friendship with Janet Simpson Fischer, and Janis and Don enjoyed spending time with Janet and her husband Billy.

Janis is preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Caroline Anderson and sister, Marilyn Stortz and is survived by her husband, Don Yelton; children Tracy Pica (Joe) Tara Fischer (Richard), Todd Anderson, Doug Yelton (Sande’) and Chad Yelton (Shannon); grandchildren Brad Hemmerle (Samantha Iles), Jaclyn Goss (Tim), Cassie Fischer, Kalee Yelton, Maddie Fischer, Cooper Yelton, Abby Yelton, Maggie Yelton, and Jack Yelton and great-grandchildren: Max and Georgia Goss and Benjamin, Addie and Savannah Iles. Siblings Jack Anderson (Judi), Tom Anderson, Cyndi Sohnlein (Dave).

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to University of Cincinnati Foundation/Parkinson’s Disease, P.O. Box 19970, Cincinnati, OH 45219 or or St. Elizabeth Foundation c/o Hospice, 1 Medical Village Drive, Edgewood, KY 41017.

Writing about the memory of her older sister, Marilyn, who passed away in 1983, Janis said, ‘So when we gather, stories are told, of things said and done. For it is only when we quit talking about her that she is truly gone. So, we tell of good times, funny times and challenges that she won, and because we speak of her, her spirit lives on."

May Janis always be remembered with a smile. “Yes, Janis… we are still talking about you.”