Jannis D. Conselyea

On Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023, our extraordinary Yaya passed away.

Services will be held at St. Raphaels, Glasgow, Mont., on Thursday, Aug. 31, at 11 a.m., with Father Jose Valliparambil officiating. Burial to follow at Highland Cemetery. Please join the family for a luncheon at the Parish Center.

Jannis D. Conselyea was born May 18, 1944, in Provo, Utah, to Afton and Phillip Hansen. She grew up in Salt Lake City and spent her teenage years cruising The Avenues in her pink T-Bird with her best friends, graduating from East High in 1962. After graduation she married her high school sweetheart Thomas Francis Durkin III and had two sons, Rory and Jamie.

Shortly thereafter they relocated to Los Angeles, Calif. Jannis pursued an acting career and appeared in "Newmans Law", the first episode of "Kojak," "The Odd Couple," "The Courtship of Eddies Father" and numerous others. She had many interesting stories of her Hollywood days.

In 1981 she remarried and had a daughter Christine. Jannis enrolled in Loyola Marymount University graduating Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelors in Communication Arts in 1994. Jannis valued education and earning that degree was something she always took great pride in.

Seeking change and wanting to leave Los Angeles, Jannis, her mother Afton and daughter moved to Helena, Mont., in 1995. Starting out as manager for Capital Hill Mall, she ultimately accepted a position as a Bureau Chief for Public Health and Human Services, retiring in 2014. Yaya enjoyed her beautiful home in the mountains of Helena. She spent her days watching wildlife, gardening, and spending time with friends.

In 2020 she moved to Glasgow to be closer to family and was currently building her dream home. Later in life her greatest accomplishments were writing and publishing books and producing her son's album. At the age of 77, a surprise DNA test result would find that she had a sister, Christy. They reunited and shared a close bond even though it was only for a short time. Jannis loved her family, friends, nature, music, animals, chocolate and wine.

Jannis will leave a huge void in our hearts and will be greatly missed.

Jannis is proceeded in death by her parents; her brother, Craig; and her son, Jamie Michael Durkin.

She is survived by son Rory (Michele and Zachary) Durkin; daughter Christine (Patrick, Amelia, Ella, Isla) Gilchrist; and her sister, Christy (Jim) Taylor.