Janis Marie Anderson

On October 16, 1947, Janis Marie was born in Seattle, Washington, as the surviving twin to Jessie and Gracie Crouch, both of whom have since passed away. She grew up in Seattle and graduated from Garfield High School with the Class of 1965. During her high school years, Janis was honored as a Rhinestone Debutante, marking the beginning of her lifelong commitment to community and personal achievement.

Following her graduation, Janis attended Olympic College in Bremerton, Washington. In 1969, she moved to the Bay Area, where she began a diverse professional career. She held positions at Focus Cable, the County Board of Realtors, and worked as a Payroll Accountant for the City of Oakland. Janis also balanced her professional life with other interests, serving as a bartender and actively participating in organizations such as the Black Bar Association and the Amateur Bowling Team.

In 1992, Janis returned to Seattle to care for her ailing parents. Her passion for bowling continued, and she joined several local bowling leagues, where she became affectionately known as "Jayebird." She worked for nearly two decades in the King County Accounting Department, where her dedication and strong work ethic left a lasting impact.

Janis’ commitment to her community was further demonstrated in 2004 when she joined The Original Seattle Steppers Organization. In 2006, she embraced the role of Public Relations Manager for Steppers Unite Inc., a position she held with pride and distinction. Her leadership and warm spirit earned her the nickname “Mother Jayebird” among various Pacific Northwest Steppers groups. Beyond her professional and organizational contributions, Janis found joy in activities such as line dancing, bowling, and karaoke. But her most favorite thing was traveling to California via Amtrak to visit her grandchildren.

Janis is survived by her sons, De Von Anderson of Seattle and DaMeonn Ballard; her two granddaughters, Devana’ and DaRina Ballard; her great-grandson, Roman, all residing in California; and her goddaughter, Anna Ponder and family (which she adopted) of Seattle. She also leaves behind a host of cousins and friends who cherish her memory.