Sheila Gwendolen Cowan

Sheila Gwendolen Cowan was born Sheila Lloyd on January 2, 1931 in Nairobi Kenya. Her parents, Franklin and Gwendolyn, farmed in Africa for a number of years. Sheila and her sister Elizabeth enjoyed a magical childhood with holidays at Mombasa on the Indian Ocean and the opportunity to see African wildlife every day.

That came to an end in 1939 when war broke out and Franklin and Gwen, returned with their family to England. Franklin re-joined the R.A.F in command of a radar installation in Aberdeen Scotland throughout the war. Sheila and Elizabeth spent their formative years in Scotland and made many friends. The transition from the warm and nurturing environment in Africa to the cold of northern Scotland was a challenge for Sheila. She was initially shy and felt the cold deeply, although her time in Aberdeen would serve her well years later when she returned to the north.

Her extended family lived in Sussex and Surrey in the south of England and after the war, Sheila returned there where she finished her education, took training as a registered nurse and in her spare time, greatly enjoyed tennis. She also developed her considerable artistic talent during those years. She was a skilled painter who worked in many mediums, including charcoal, pencil sketching, very detailed pieces created in pencil crayon, water colours, oils and acrylics. She took great care in creating lifelike studies of trees, flowers, birds and even insects. Her art was greatly admired throughout her life and became sought after by many of her friends in her later years.

In 1951, Sheila met her husband, Glenn Cowan. After a whirlwind romance, they married and Sheila abandoned her life of comfort and privilege and followed him to Canada. They lived for a short period of time in Alert Bay on Vancouver Island but the north beckoned and they moved to Edmonton, where Sheila’s first son Kevin was born in 1957. Her son Neil was born in 1959 in Pouce Coupe. The marriage did not survive but Sheila was determined to make a go of it in her new home in Dawson Creek. Fortunately, her years in Aberdeen had prepared her for cold northern winters.

Sheila purchased a farm nearby and eventually took a position with Canada Post. She worked in the

Dawson Creek Post office for almost 10 years, before applying for a job as a letter carrier. She was one of the first female Letter Carriers in Canada and had the longest and coldest route, through the snowdrifts and winds of Dawson Creek.

Sheila had many happy years in Dawson Creek raising her boys. She continued to provide art pieces for friends and these continue to be treasured today. Tragically, her younger son Neil was killed in 1976 in a farming accident. That event played a part in prompting Sheila to finally abandon Dawson Creek, and she moved to Victoria in 1977.

Sheila immediately took to the “Olde England” aspects of Victoria. She continued to work as a letter carrier and enjoyed walking the neighborhoods of Victoria where she made many friends along her routes and formed ideas for paintings that she would later complete.

Two of Sheila’s dearest friends were Pat MacLeod, of Dawson Creek and Pearl Lien, now of Sidney. These two friends remained an integral part of Sheila’s life. She and Pat remained friends until Pat’s passing several years ago. Pearl remained a great friend until Sheila’s passing.

Sheila’s eldest son Kevin studied law and was admitted to the BC Bar in 1991. Sheila would sometimes joke that she never completely trusted him thereafter although she remained proud of him to the end. Kevin and Terry gifted Sheila with 3 grandchildren, Emily Charlotte in 1990, Sarah Neil in 1993 and Iain Brendan in 1996. Sheila was enormously proud of her grandchildren and looked forward eagerly to their interactions and visits over the years.

Sheila met her life partner, Gerry Henriksen in Victoria in 1983. Gerry’s jocular and generous nature immediately captivated Sheila and they remained together as a “perfect couple” until her passing. They greatly loved their beloved dogs who gave them great pleasure throughout the years and who inspired many of Sheila’s paintings.

Sheila and Gerry lived together in Victoria near the Gorge before moving to Saanich and finally to Sidney. In Sidney, Sheila met one of her other great friends, Mavis Trask, with whom she spent many happy hours volunteering at the Jewelry Desk at the local Hospice store and enjoying “ladies’ lunches” together.

The idea of living without Sheila was more than Gerry could bear and he followed her into the next life only one week later, on June 19th. They will be interred in his hometown of Grand Forks and will now spend eternity together.

Throughout her 93 years, Sheila enjoyed dancing, visiting with friends and creating beautiful art. She nurtured friends and family throughout her life, in good times and bad. She always tried to find the positive in things, even when she was faced with tragedy and life challenges. Following the death of her son, Sheila began creating beautiful art and one of her diary entries from 1976, illustrates the perspective she brought to her work and to her life. One of her favourite areas was in James Bay, where she inevitably marveled at the trees. She wrote:

"I took several photos of trees on my walk today. There is one beautiful and enormous beech tree, I think on Clarence. I am going to draw it soon. The branches are fantastic; so encompassing and firm. I get strength from just looking at its trunk. It’s like a strong wise man saying I am strong and firm and wise and warm. I also love the dear little cherry trees, their divinely twisted blackened branches all covered in delicate pinky half opened sprays of blossom."

She painted the scene described and the work shows the detail reflected in her words. She brought great enthusiasm and care to all endeavours throughout her life.

Sheila passed away in her sleep in the early morning on June 11, 2025. At the time she was in the care of the gentle souls at The Heights in Victoria, whose kindness at the end is greatly appreciated by Sheila’s family. The family is eternally grateful to Sue Henriksen, for her devotion during Sheila’s last months.

Sheila is predeceased by her son Neil. Survived briefly by her life partner, Gerald Otto Henriksen. She is survived by her son Kevin (Terry) and their children, Emily, Sarah and Iain of Vancouver, her sister, Elizabeth Leach of Rustington, Sussex, England and by Ken Henriksen and his wife Sue, of Victoria.