Gertrude Elizabeth Norris Sowels-Canada was born March 28, 1928, in Jefferson, Texas to the late Robert W. and Mattie Lee Norris.  She was the fifth of ten children.  Raised in a spiritual home having accepted Christ Gertrude Elizabeth was baptized and began her commitment to serving God.

Her education was through the Fort Worth, Texas public school system where she graduated from IM Terrell High School.  Being a bright and advanced student of age 16 Miss Norris was given an offer to graduate ahead of her classmates but choose to wait to be with them.

She later met and married D. C. Sowels and to this union five children were born.  Added to her commitment was devoted wife and mother.  D. C., Jonetta and one child have preceded her in death.  As has her second husband Sydney Canada.

In her devotion to God, she served as a Sunday School Teacher, Deaconess, Missionary, Pianist, and Mother's Board.  Instructing and sharing the word of God to many even those at her Tampico facility.  Mrs. Gertrude E. Sowels-Canada was a member of First Baptist Church in Pittsburg, California

Education was important to her and so she attended Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, California; Grice Herring Business School, Hayward, California; Anthony's Real Estate School, Oakland, California.

Her working career began as a licensed barber in Texas, after moving to Paso Robles, California she was employed in housekeeping at a local hotel, manager of a PX-military store at Camp Roberts and later a business owner of a small café.  After moving the family to Oakland, California she educated herself on how to use an IBM data processor and worked doing data entry for a local company.  Upon moving to Hayward, California she then found employment with JC Penney as a salesclerk.

Mrs. Sowels-Canada was not only highly intelligent but an initiative-taking person, so she started her Real Estate career in the mid 1960's in Oakland, California.  After several successful years in helping first time home buyers and professionals purchase homes.  She encouraged her son David to obtain his Real Estate license.  He then used her knowledge and training to help him move forward in his career and obtain a Real Estate Brokers License.  She became the office manager. She worked 40 years in various management and administrative positions in Real Estate.  From this foundation her daughters Philphis, Jonetta and other son Dennis obtained Real Estate licenses and worked in the business as a family.  She had a profound impact on all the people that she met.  Long after she retired everyone remembers her professionalism, kindness and considered her a part of their family.

She leaves to cherish her memory her three children, Philphis Denean Sowels (daughter), David Charles Sowels (son) and Dennis Ray Sowels (son); along with their wives Carolyn and Susan Sowels; one sister Reverend Gustella Mills, grandsons, granddaughters, great grand and great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and a host of friends.

Friends and family are invited to a visitation on Wednesday, December 15, 2021, from 4:00-6:30pm and funeral service on Thursday, December 16, 2021, at 11:00am at the Pittsburg Funeral Chapel, 2295 Railroad Avenue in Pittsburg. Burial to follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Concord.