Janelle Smith Archer

August 7, 1941 — July 18, 2026

Janelle Smith Archer passed away peacefully on July 18, 2026, surrounded by love. Born August 7, 1941, in Houston, Texas, to Ruth and Morris Smith, she has taken her final walk home into the loving arms of Jesus.

Janelle was a true fashionista with a passion for sewing. She often stayed up late crafting dance costumes and prom dresses for her daughter and friends, making everything she touched beautiful with stitches of love and joy. Following her retirement, she became a nationally recognized sewist and wearable arts creator. She served as President of the American Sewing Guild, held numerous positions on the Houston Chapter Advisory Board, and remained a treasured member of her sewing community, giving her time and talents wholeheartedly — from organizing fashion shows to securing retreat facilities. An accomplished seamstress and award-winning designer, she earned multiple honors at the 2004 International Quilt Festival for her "Red Jacket" and "Denim & Diamonds Jacket." Her legacy of fashion and textiles lives on through her daughter, Susan, and her granddaughter, Frankie.

Beyond her creative talents, Janelle's greatest joy was her family. She was married to Jimmy Ray "Jim" Archer for 60 years, becoming an honorary Aggie on their wedding day and enjoying many football games with their son, Alan. Life with Jim was an adventure — from riding on the back of a Harley, cruising in their red Corvette convertible, and flying in the personal airplane Jim and their son Alan built together. As a mother, she never missed a ballgame or dance recital, and her children arise and call her blessed. When she became Mimi to her four grandchildren — Mason, Frankie, Jude, and Garrett — she was fully devoted, always saying yes: to early morning breakfasts, school lunches, watching Project Runway, or hosting countless sleepovers. They adored her, and she loved them just as deeply.

Janelle held a quiet but unshakeable faith, living by the belief that God has a plan and will never give you more than you can handle.

Janelle is survived by her husband, Jimmy "Jim"  Ray Archer; her son, Alan Reed Archer, and his wife, Jenny; her daughter, Susan Janelle Archer; her grandchildren, Mason Ray Mullen and his wife, Katherine, Francesca "Frankie" Noelle Chambers and her husband, Cole, Jude David Kluckman, and Garrett Reed Archer; her great-grandchildren, Tripp David Mullen, Jack Jude Mullen, and Covey Noelle Mullen; and Dianna Archer, our beloved Aunt D.

Janelle's legacy will live on in the hearts of everyone who loved her.

Friends are invited to join the family for a funeral service to be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 23, at Klein Funeral Home - CyFair Northwest, 9719 Wortham Blvd., Houston, TX 77065. A graveside committal service will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 25, at Crestview Memorial Park, 1917 Archer City Hwy., Wichita Falls, TX 76302.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you consider a memorial donation to the Alzheimer's Association or Heart-to-Heart Hospice.