Lois Irene Sowell

Lois is survived by her daughter, Linda Libby, and her favorite son-in-law, Ronald Libby, her two beloved grandchildren, Sean Libby (his wife, Monique) and Joy Libby, and her four great-grandchildren, Martin, Emma, Natalia, and Rayne. In the months and moments before her passing, she enjoyed precious time with each member of her family.

Born in Baltimore, MD on August 9, 1931, she was the cherished only child of Louis and Irene Grimm. During elementary school, the family relocated to Annapolis, Maryland to assist her grandmother at her Weems Creek country store. Lois graduated from Annapolis High School in 1948. She often said she was glad to have graduated that year because when her school system changed, those after her had to wait an additional two years to graduate. She still joined her graduating classmates and friends monthly for lunch until this year. She was very grateful for more than 76 years of fun, food, and friendship together.

As we know, Annapolis truly is a Navy town, so while working as a bookkeeper for a local car dealership, Lois met Naval musician, Richard D. Sowell Jr., who was stationed in the Naval Academy Band until retirement as a Master Chief. They married and started life together in an apartment on Green Street.

Together they had one daughter, Linda Ann, who survived a touch-and-go premature birth (unlike their next two babies who are buried at the Naval Academy Cemetery). Lois and Dick happily raised her together in the Parole area of Annapolis, MD where Lois lived until only a few months before her passing.

Lois was a devoted Navy-wife and mother who also pursued her education, career, and passions. After raising her daughter, she continued her education first at Anne Arundel Community College and then transferred to earn her Bachelor’s in Business administration from the University of Maryland, all while working full-time as an auditor for Anne-Arundel County. While working for the county, Lois took a big step and became a CPA. After retiring from the county, she opened her own CPA firm where she worked daily until only a year before her passing.

She loved her staff and formed deep bonds over shared late-night dinners during tax season and counted her clients as friends. Lois was a strikingly beautiful woman who took great pride in her appearance and developed deep friendships with her beautician team.

As a highly social and generous person, Lois was involved in many organizations and naturally served in her gifting as Treasurer for many years for The Fleet Reserve, Zonta Club of Annapolis, and the Elk’s Club to name a few. She was especially supportive of her son-in-law’s ministry and donated generously over the years to Christian Life Center, the church he pastored, now pastored by her grandson, Sean.

She was a voracious reader and adapted to electronic books easily—her kindle was always with her. In addition to summer evenings on her screened-in porch, she enjoyed watching television to relax and her favorites were any and every Law & Order episode or professional football. She loved the Baltimore Colts best but transferred her allegiance to the Ravens like a great fan.

She doted on her daughter and son-in-law, her grandchildren, and her great grandchildren. She and her family enjoyed many summers in Ocean City, MD and the vacations were not complete without sweet corn and steamed hard crab dinners, Thrashers french fries, Bull on the Beach, and Lombardi’s pizza. She loved taking her grand and great-grandchildren to Jolly Rogers and the boardwalk to pay for as many rides as they wanted and as many games as needed until they won the prizes they had their eyes on. She’ll be greatly missed by all.

In lieu of flowers, consider a tribute donation to some of Lois’s treasured charities:

The Lymphatic Education & Research Network, or the

Chrysalis House Recovery Center for Women and Children in Crownsville, MD.

A visitation for Lois will be held Monday, June 3, 2024 from 4 to 7 PM at the John M. Taylor Funeral Home, 147 Duke of Gloucester Street, Annapolis, Maryland 21401. Further visitation will be on Tuesday, June 4, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at such time the Funeral Service will begin in the funeral home chapel at 11:00 AM followed by light refreshments. Interment to follow at 1:45 PM Maryland Veterans Cemetery Crownsville, 1122 Sunrise Beach Rd, Crownsville, MD 21032.