Dr. Evelyn Jewell Sowell graduated from Howard Payne College and taught school for many years. She received her Masters Degree from Wichita State University, earning her PhD in Education from Northern Illinois University.

She was on the faculty at NIU, as well as what is now University of Texas at Tyler. In 1990 she came to Phoenix and was a professor of education at ASU West, helping prepare teachers for their careers.

Mathematics was Evelyn's specialty, and she authored articles and books on mathematics and curriculum. After retirement in 2003 she continued her passion for education and writing by helping to write curriculum at The Beatitudes Campus for staff development in memory care.

She is predeceased by her parents, Herbert and Sarah Sowell, a sister and a brother.

She is survived by a brother Norman and friends who will miss her dearly.

A Celebration of Life was held on December 15, 2025.

Contributions in her memory may be sent to Desert Mission Food Bank, Arizona Humane Society, The Nature Conservancy.