Janet Tyler Tyler Fox

After receiving a BA in art from Michigan State Normal School in Ypsilanti, she began a long and distinguished career as an art educator, including ten years in the Spring Branch ISD. In 1965, she joined the faculty of the Art Education Department at the University of Houston. She mentored hundreds of art education students and authored the three-volume series, Modular Art Education. She retired as an Associate Professor in 1977. Janet was honored by the art education community as TAEA Texas Art Educator of the Year in 1983, NAEA as Retired Art Educator of the Year in 1996, and was inducted as a Distinguished Fellow of the TAEA in 1993.

In 1982 she co-founded the organization now known as City ArtWorks, a nonprofit children’s art program. At the time of her death, she was Board Member Emeritus of City ArtWorks and also a Life Board Member of the Altharetta Yeargin Art Museum where a library is named in Janet’s honor. She is the author of Altharetta Yeargin’s biography. As a member of the Elite Reading Group, Janet was an avid reader. She was also a serious bridge player, who taught bridge lessons and acquired Life Master status in 1978. Many of the more than 6000 volumes in her library now form core collections at the Yeargin Museum and at City ArtWorks. Janet was also an early member of the Spring Valley AAUW, now Spring Branch University Women.

She was preceded in death by her brother John Foerster Tyler and sister, Mary Elizabeth Tyler Donahue. Survived by her daughter Patsy Andrews and husband Mike, she is “Mimi” to her adored grandsons and their wives, Scott and Suzanne, Mark and Allison, and her great granddaughters Emily Andrews and Taylor Martin and was Aunt Janet to several nieces and nephews. Her “baby sister” Virginia Post Tyler Laycock still creates beautiful stained glass in Ouray, Colorado. She is also survived by Mike Andrews’ brother Richard and wife Elizabeth, who were family to her. Janet’s wisdom and humor will be sorely missed by her family and friends.

The family is grateful for the loving care provided by Deborah Pierce and her sisters Lisa Hall, Diane Hodges, and Desiree Hall, and for the ongoing support of Dr. Jeffrey Lee, as well as good friends Phyllis Miller, Polly Smart, Barbara Hammer, April Gauss, Bill Hodge, and her bridge buddies.

A celebration honoring the life Janet Fox was held at one o'clock in the afternoon on Friday, the 22nd of July, in the chapel of Waltrip Funeral Directors in Houston.

Donations honoring her memory may be sent to City ArtWorks, 1330-R Wirt Rd., Houston, TX, 77055 or to a charity of your choice.