Jannell Diane Senn

14 Oct 1953 in Wichita, Kansas - 26 Jan 2025 in Pflugerville, Texas

Jannell Diane Senn, aged 71, died of natural causes within her home in Pflugerville, Texas. She was known to most friends and family as “Jan”, and was born in Wichita, Kansas on October 14, 1953 to the parents of Velma Dora Scott and John J. Senn. From a young age, her father instilled in her a love for learning, an appreciation for nature’s beauty, a deep respect for environmental stewardship, and a commitment to charity—values she would cherish and embody throughout her life.

Jan excelled academically and completed her early education in Wichita, graduating with the class of 1971 from Wichita West High School. Her passion for learning was evident, as she eagerly enrolled in summer courses at Wichita State University immediately after graduation. She attended Wichita State University as an undergraduate from the summer of 1971 through the fall of 1974. She received a Bachelor of Arts with a major in psychology and minor in sociology, and graduated in the Cum Laude honors program. While she was an undergraduate she also joined the Beta Chi Chapter of the Gamma Phi Beta Sorority in January of 1973, in which she would be a member and donor over the next 52 years!

In 1975 she was accepted into Wichita State University’s graduate program for the Student Personnel and Guidance program, which she attended until she was accepted into the University of Kansas School of Law. She briefly lived in the McCollum Hall graduate dormitory, where she would meet lifelong friends and her future roommates. Together, they would later rent a house on Mississippi Street, located across from Campanelli and the Kansas University Football Stadium. There, in between their studies, they would create a tradition of a “Canadian Thanksgiving” in honor of two of their roommates and host the occasional party- including a Wizard of Oz themed party in which Jan, known by her friends and family for her intelligence and sharp memory, would ironically play the scarecrow. Over the summer of 1976, Jan was proud to be a camp counselor for Gamma Phi Beta in Sechelt, British Columbia, Canada. Other activities she enjoyed during her college days included involvement with the University Year for ACTION, Commission on the Status of Women, Big Sisters, Little Sisters of Minerva, and Phi Delta Phi.

She graduated from the University of Kansas with a Juris Doctorate degree in 1978, and was admitted to the Kansas State Bar in September of 1979. It was at KU Law School that she would meet her future husband, Richard G. Evans (“Dick”). Shortly after graduating, she made the move from Wichita, Kansas to the Overland Park area (just outside of Kansas City, Kansas). Her first job after law school was as a Juvenile Probation Officer with Johnson County, Kansas from the summer of 1978 through the summer of 1979, supervising youths on probation and providing counsel to them and their family members. She went on to be an associate attorney for Boddington and Brown in Kansas City, Kansas for over four years. On September 3, 1983 she and Dick were wed in a small ceremony attended by family and close friends at the Holiday Inn in Kansas City, Kansas. They would move to Austin, Texas shortly thereafter.

In Austin, Jan initially worked as a residential leasing agent with J.B. Goodwin, working for them from 1984 though most of 1986. It was during this time that she would conceive and give birth to her first daughter, Rachel A. Evans, in February of 1985. She would go on to briefly work for Durham Nixon-Clay Business College as a paralegal tutor and instructor, as well as a leasing agent for Recar and Associates, before taking and passing the Texas State Bar in March of 1988. Six months later she and Dick would welcome their second daughter, Kelsey F. Evans. Over the next few years she would briefly do some work as a real estate agent, part-time support attorney with Henslee, Ryan, and Groce, and family law with Duncan F. Wilson before welcoming her third child, Max J. Evans, in 1994. She then worked alongside her husband in a private practice (Evans & Senn) for family law out of their home. In 2000, after several years of private practice, she briefly went to work for the Law Offices of Bruce Lipshy as a family law associate attorney in Downtown Austin. In 2001, she applied to be an attorney for the Texas Real Estate Commission. She would work there for 14 years before she retired in 2015.

Jan was a devoted and loving mother to her three children and an incredibly proud grandmother. As a mother, Jan wholeheartedly supported her children’s passions and interests, dedicating countless weekdays and weekends to transporting them to sports practices, games, and tournaments—all while balancing her career. She found joy in traveling, preferring the charm of small scenic towns over bustling cities. Jan fostered a love for the outdoors in her children, frequently taking them to state and national parks. A voracious reader, she amassed a personal library and often lent her keen eye for grammar, spelling, and clear communication to help her children and colleagues refine their writing. She cherished her lifelong bond with her brother, Craig, and nurtured many close friendships throughout her life. Her devotion included extended family and friends, never letting a birthday, holiday, anniversary, or the passing of a loved one go unacknowledged without a heartfelt letter, card, or text. She loved deeply and was deeply loved in return, leaving those who knew her profoundly saddened by her passing.

Jan embraced people with warmth and without judgment, valuing kindness, honesty, and authenticity, while also bringing wisdom and lightheartedness to those around her with her sharp mind and underrated sense of humor. Her generosity knew no bounds, as she tirelessly supported charities that aligned with her values—championing nature and wildlife preservation, empowering women and children, and providing medical care through organizations like St. Jude, Smile Train, Mercy Ships, and Doctors Without Borders. Guided by a strong moral compass, she lived with integrity, compassion, and a deep sense of fairness, which extended beyond people to her extraordinary love for animals; over the years, she cared for countless pets, including dogs, cats, birds, guinea pigs, a ferret, gerbils, rabbits, and even the occasional rescue in need of special attention. With an innate ability to connect with animals, she offered comfort and care to those that were abandoned, injured, or in distress, assisting and ensuring they found safety and love. Many people, and animals, found sanctuary and solace under her gentle and nurturing spirit.

Jan’s life was a testament to the power of love, resilience, and unwavering support for those she cared about. She will be profoundly missed and forever remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

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A memorial service for Jannell will be held Sunday, February 23, 2025 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home, 14501 North Ih-35, Pflugerville, TX 78660. A graveside inurnment will occur Saturday, March 15, 2025 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Lakeview Funeral Home and Cemetery, 12100 E 13th St. N., Wichita, KS 67206.