Dana Lee Sowell

Dana Lee Sowell, 63, passed away peacefully after complications with various chronic illnesses on June 5, 2022, at Navasota Nursing and Rehab where he lived for the past 16 years. He was born November 28, 1958, in Houston, Texas, to John Lee and JoAnn (Brennen) Sowell. Our family would like to thank Navasota Nursing and Rehab for all the support and compassion they gave him all these years. We would also like to thank Texas Home Health and his long-time physician Dr. Luke Scarmardo.

Dana graduated from Navasota High School in 1977 and has always been a dedicated ‘Rattler’ and Class of ‘77 fan. Dana married Gynti (Guinn-Shaver) Pinon in 1982. They had 3 children — Jason, Krysten, and Justin — during their 18 years of marriage. Dana worked various jobs in retail, restaurant management, and security before taking over as Chief of Security for Fox 26 News in Houston. He loved working with Fox 26 and took great pride in guarding both the staff, facility, and celebrities who regularly visited the station. One of Dana’s greatest hobbies was leatherwork for which he won a first place Blue Ribbon award for hand tooling the Grimes County Courthouse. He also hand tooled a leather painting of NHS with a Rattler in the middle, a massive Batten Disease Memorial Wall, and many other projects. He was very passionate about martial arts and spent years training in Tang Soo Do. A lifelong Elvis Presley fan, Dana was listening to his music until his final moments.

Dana was preceded in death by his parents, John and JoAnn Sowell, and his daughter, Krysten Sowell, who passed away in 2021 due to complications from Rett Syndrome. He is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Don and Gail Sowell; sister and brother-in-law, Denise and Joe Shead; sons and daughter-in-law, Jason Sowell and Justin and Tiffany Sowell; grandchildren, Garett, Payton, Everleigh, and Hudson Sowell, and Parker and Tucker Sowell; his aunt and uncle, Harry and Flo Brennen, and a host of nieces and nephews.

Visitation with the family will be held at Nobles Funeral Chapel, 402 E Blackshear St, Navasota, TX 77868 at 9:00 AM on Wednesday, June 8, followed by a celebration of life service at 10:00 AM officiated by Reverend Mac Vaughn and Reverend Jeremy Woodley. Graveside services will immediately follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Carlos, where his parents and daughter are also buried.

Pallbearers will be Leo Hatcher, Paul Holder, Michael Ross, Tom Shead, Cynthia Todd, and Don Truede. Honorary Pallbearers will be Debra Booker, Garett, Payton, Everleigh, Hudson, Parker, and Tucker Sowell.

In lieu of flowers, if you wish, donations can be made to the First United Methodist Church, 616 Holland Street, Navasota, Texas 77868.