Leah Valaria Sowell

Leah Valaria Kanapkey Sowell, 88, passed away on Friday, October 3, in Shreveport, Louisiana.

She was born on December 21, 1936, in Alexandria, Louisiana, to parents Thomas Valarus Kanapkey and Nina Edith Sandifer Kanapkey. She was married to Thomas John Sowell, Jr., of Turner's Falls, Massachusetts, on November 7, 1955, in Shreveport, Louisiana.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Thomas John Sowell, Jr.; her mother Nina Edith Sandifer Kanapkey, her father Thomas Valarus Kanapkey; her two brothers James Judson Kanapkey and Thomas Daniel Kanapkey; her brother-in-law Paul Gesn, her brother-in-law Joel McIlwain, and her son-in-law Richard Dancy. She is survived by her three sisters, Karen Kanapkey Gesn, Dian Kanapkey McIlwain, and Veronica Ann Kanapkey; her three children, Monica Sowell Dancy of Shreveport, Kevin Thomas Sowell and wife Renée of Shreveport, and Terri Sowell Mercer and husband Speedy of Shreveport; her four grandchildren Heather Dancy Fatherree and husband Lee of Shreveport, Geoffrey Thomas Dancy and wife Menaka Philips of Toronto, Ontario, Lauren Sowell Christy and husband Justin of Holly Springs, North Carolina, and Kara Sowell Giudice and husband Drew of Smyrna, Tennessee; and her eight great-grandchildren, Gracie Lee Fatherree, Alexander Cass Fatherree, Jai Philips Dancy, Rami Philips Dancy, Senna Philips Dancy, Luke Thomas Christy, Grayson Fowler Christy, and Palmer Josephine Giudice.

Leah served many roles to those in her family. She was known to all for her ardent dedication to the Catholic faith. She was a true survivor, known for her tremendous will to live despite many illnesses and medical set-backs. She was known to her sister Dian as a second mother, due to their large age gap, and her sister Karen remembers her as being a wonderful aunt to her children. Her daughters remember fondly their time praying with her and going for ice cream.

A memorial and graveside service will be held in her honor at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Stonewall, LA.

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