Janis Williamson Bryant, 80, passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 28, 2016, her loving children at her side after a long illness. Celebration of life: 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25, at Arts 5th Avenue, Fort Worth. Janis was born on Aug. 16, 1935, in Athens, Texas, the second child and daughter of Opha Gwendolyn Stringer and Marion Francis Williamson. She attended schools in Athens until the family moved to Borger where she graduated from Borger High School and Frank Phillips College as an art major. After her marriage to Sammie Bryant in 1955, she lived in Amarillo and Illinois before relocating back to Texas with her children and taking a federal job in Amarillo. Later, she transferred to Fort Worth as a government employee. Anxious to apply her art degree, she became an interior designer and enjoyed many years with her clients. Retiring in 1997 she devoted her full time to art. Janis was a prolific painter in oils, acrylics and pastels and well known in the arts community. She opened her first gallery and studio in 1997 where she also began teaching art classes; later, she would move the gallery to Fort Worth's South side to enjoy the redevelopment of that area. Known for her many interests, Janis was an accomplished ice skater, photographer, tap dancer and traveler. But above all, her love centered on her two children, Sammie and Shelly Bryant, and she took great pride in them and their accomplishments. She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings, Marilynn Williamson Rogers. Survivors: Those left to cherish her memory are her children, Sammie Wesley Bryant (Cindy) and Shelly Diane Carney (Donnie); grandchildren. Wesley Bryant and Lynzee Leslie (Ethan); great-grandson, Vaughan Bryant; siblings, JoAn Goodnight Earl, Sara Ruth Howard, James Harrison Williamson, Jack Stringer Williamson (Jeanne) and Cheryl Frances Williamson; nephews, Mark (Joni) and Matthew (Colleen) Goodnight, Paul (Faye) and Dane Rogers (Janice), John Patrick and Ben Howard (Renae) and Andrew Williamson; as well as a multitude of friends and admirers.

Published in Star-Telegram on Aug. 7, 2016