Obituaries: Owen Fredieu, Jr., 1969, Winn Parish, LA
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483

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From: July 24, 1969 Winn Parish Enterprise News-American

Montgomery Man Drowns In Red River

Owen Fredieu, Jr., 25, of Montgomery, drowned late Saturday night in Red River
about 12 miles north of Colfax.

Deputies said the boat from which Fredieu and his two companions were running
catfish capsized when one of the men slapped at a swimming nutria with a boat
paddle.

The accident occurred in a bend of the river and Fredieu, who couldn't swim,
was pulled under by swirling water.  The river at the point where the boat
capsized is about 50 feet deep.

Authorities said the body was recovered about 7:30 p.m. Sunday following an
extensive search operation involving sheriff's department rescue units from
Rapides, Grant, Natchitoches, and Winn Parishes.  The body was found not far
from where Fredieu drowned, deputies said.

One of the men with Fredieu was identified as George Lasyone of Montgomery. 
The name of the other was not available.

A spokesman for the Grant sheriff's office said Fredieu "grabbed on of the
other men and was almost to the boat when for some reason he relaxed his hold
and went down."

Fredieu's companions clung to the fishing boat as the current pushed it down
the river.  They were rescued by two other fishermen, one of whom was
identified as Hilton Smith..  Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Tuesday in
the residence of Carl Lasyone at Montgomery.

Burial was in Shady Grove Cemetery at Aloha.

Fredieu is survived by his wife, Shirley Gray Fredieu; two sons, Keith Fredieu
and Robert Fredieu; and a daughter, Belinda Ann Fredieu, all of Montgomery;
his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Owen Fredieu, Sr., and a grandmother, Josephine
Fredieu, all of Montgomery; four brothers, Ouston Fredieu of Hineston, J. W.
Fredieu of Houston, Texas, and Clayton Fredieu and James Fredieu, both of
Colfax; four sisters, Opal Parker and Mary Jane Perkins, both of Montgomery,
Mrs. Lacy Lee LaCour of Colfax, and Mabel Vercher of Houston, Texas.