Obituaries: Billie Joe Gassiott, 1938, Winn Parish, LA
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
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From: April 14, 1938 Winn Parish Enterprise

Billie Joe Gassiott Drowns At Tremont

Burial is Made in Local Cemetery Tuesday Afternoon

Billie Joe Gassiott, 6 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Gassiott of Tremont
was drowned when he fell into a creek running into Choudrant Bayou near his
home Sunday afternoon about 5:30.  The child's body was recovered at 10:35
p.m. by members of the Monroe Fire Department, who went to the scene with the
American Legion emergency truck.

Billie was reported to have been playing with some boys of his own age on a
truck trestle of the Tremont & Gulf railroad which spans the creek and was
throwing stones into the water when he lost his balance.  His companion ran to
a house nearby for assistance but when help arrived the child's body was not
to be seen.  A call to the Monroe Fire Department was made summoning the
American Legion emergency truck, which was rushed to the scene manned by Fire
Captains T. J. Dupree and J. W. Faler, H. G. Guin and John W. Welch, members
of the Monroe Fire Department and Jimmie Atkinson, a voulunteer.

The men dragged the creek and five hours later recovered the body at a point
about 125 feet from where the child had fallen into the water.

Mr. and Mrs. Gassiott were visiting in Winnfield Sunday afternoon and did not
know of the fatal accident until they reached their home.

The remains were brought to Winnfield to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Gassiott
and funeral services were conducted at the First Baptist Church Tuesday
afternoon.  Dr. B. C. Land was in charge.  Interment was in the local
cemetery.

Active pallbearers were J. P. Warren, Andrew Jenkins, Horace Hicks, and Red
Carter.  Honorary pallbearers were the following playmates of the deceased: 
Estes Bozeman, Don Walsh, Hunter and Bobbie Edgington, Gary Sikes, and C. C.
Carter.

Surviving Billie Joe are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Gassiott of Tremont,
former residents of Winnfield; two brothers, Gene Edward, 10, and Bobby Ray,
4; paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Gassiott, Winnfield; maternal
grandfather, Mr. N. C. Sandiford, Winnsboro; four aunts, Miss Josie Gassiott,
Winnfield; Mrs. H. D. Emerson, Jonesboro, Ark.; Mrs. Gertha Grimshaw,
Winnsboro; and Mrs. Lucille Sistrunk, Bogata, Texas; and two uncles, Clay
Sandiford of Monroe and Irvin Sandiford of Freeport, Texas.

Among out of town relatives and friends attending the last rites of Billie Joe
Gassiott were Miss Merle Sikes, Dodson; Roy Grimshaw, Rayville, Mrs. Mattie
Ford, Winnsboro, Mr. and Mrs. Everett Meredith, Winnsboro, Mr. and Mrs. J. T.
Steen, Mr. and Mrs. E. S. Cole and son, Douglas, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Taylor and
family, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Jenkins and family, Mr. and Mrs. Rush and
daughter, Mr. and Mrs. C. R. Crocken, all of Tremont; Mrs. Chester Erskins and
Mrs. Iris Wall of Sikes, Wiley Taylor, Winnsboro, Mrs. W. C. Brady, Mrs. J. W.
Hamilton, Mrs. O. D. Holman, and Mrs. D. W. Seals, all of Alexandria.