Janelle Ann Dean

Janelle Ann Dean, 58, of Amarillo, TX passed away April 5, 2025.

Memorial service will be at 6:00 PM, Wednesday, April 9, 2025 at Boxwell Brothers Ivy Chapel, 2800 Paramount. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors.

Janelle was born September 2, 1966, in Waco, TX to Dwayne and Marion Yarbrough. She experienced life with divorced parents and was estranged for decades until her mother reached out and a relationship was formed for 4 years until her death in 2008. Janelle reached out to father due to love for her Heavenly Father and the commandment to Honor thy parents and the request of her siblings. She formed a basic forgiven relationship until his death in 2018.

She began her studies at Amarillo College but eventually graduated at Texas Woman's University with a Bachelor of Science and a Masters in Deaf Education, later graduating from West Texas University with a Master’s in Educational Leadership. Truly blessed with a son in 1990, Braxton gave her hope and ambition to succeed and provide for her "gift from God."

Janelle married Andy in June of 2022. He was able to "knock down her walls" and prove what love should look like but also opened her heart to be able to love back. Janelle and Andy loved to travel. They traveled to 14 different US states and had the tradition of kissing each time they drove past the state boarders. Andy took Janelle to six Presidential Libraries, George Bush at Texas A&M, the LBJ Library at The University of Texas, the George W Bush Library at SMU, The Bill Clinton Library in Little Rock, Arkansas, The Dwight Eisenhower Library in Abilene, Kansas and the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California, and the Harry S. Truman Little White House in Key West, Florida. Andy and Janelle honeymooned in Washington D.C. Janelle and Andy enjoyed taking two different cruises, enjoying places like Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Mexico, and the Bahamas.

Janelle was a faithful church member of The Amarillo Deaf Church for many years. She has a true love and passion for the deaf community and her students she taught. She was always the teacher. She was always the encourager, even the student nurses that treated her when she was in the hospital.

Janelle is survived by her husband, James Andrew Dean “Andy”; son, Braxton Steele Johnson and daughter-in-love, Haleigh and their son, Jaxon Stone; stepson, Avery Christopher Dean; sisters, Della Marie Koenig and partner Charles “Chaz” Kenyon, Lynn Michelle Thompson and spouse, Alan; Adrianne Sundby and husband Shane, and Luka; Mark Dunn Jr. and daughter Kali; tons of nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews; brother in law Travis Dean and wife, Melanie; and her dog, Coolidge.