Janis Johnson

On Saturday, July 13, 2024, Janis Carol Johnson of Clinton Township discarded her earthly form while listening to good jazz and surrounded by people who loved her. Born in Detroit on July 17, 1945, to Barbara (Tewksbury) Orton and Rex Orton, she leaves behind her daughter, Tana (Orton-McPherson) Jenkins, son-in-law Chris Jenkins, of Grosse Pointe Woods, and a cousin, Jeff Gans (Nancy and Casey), of Naperville, Illinois.

Jan was a true daughter of Venus-she cherished all things related to Beauty-nature, art, literature, and especially music. An alumna of Dana Hall School and Western Michigan, she was a talented artist, published author, and all around free spirit who defied convention at every turn.

Determined to live and love on her own terms, her favorite memories were of the adventurous years she spent on the open road with her greatest love, Alabama Slim (John Henry McPherson). She delighted in recounting tales of the Pink Pussycat, their bar in Northern Texas, where they spent two vibrant years.

And never one to pass up a good time, even in her final days as illness ravaged her body, her fiery humor remained intact. One of her last pearls of wisdom was, "You can't let people get to you, baby. Most don't know their heads from their a--es."

Undoubtedly, she's causing a cackling ruckus in the great beyond, but the folks she left behind are going to miss her like hell.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Leon Johnson, John Henry McPherson, her first husband Leroy, and several close friends and beloved animals.

Her visitation and service will be held on Sunday, July 28th at A.H. Peters Funeral Home in Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan.