Obituaries: Tom Bill Gilcrease, 1955, Winn Parish, LA
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
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From: August 18, 1955 Winn Parish Enterprise News-American

Boating Mishap Fatal; Tom Gilcrease Drowns In Saline Lake Friday

Tom Bill Gilcrease, 18, senior of the Winnfield High School, and son of Mr.
and Mrs. Will Gilcrease, lost his life by drowning when he was thrown from
the boat he was piloting in Saline Lake shortly afternoon Friday of last week.

Two others in the boat were saved by the quick thinking of 13 year old Mary
Elizabeth Lemoine, one of the occupants of the boat, who turned off the
throttle of the motor, which had been thrown wide open by young Gilcrease
as he attempted to right the boat after it struck a stump.  It was believed by
members of Gilcrease's family that he undoubtedly suffered a heart attack
before the accident occurred.  He had lfet the boat path in the lake when the
boat hit a stump and swerved.  The boat his another stump and righted itself
about the time that Gilcrease pulled the throttle.  The sudden spurt of the
boat pivoted Gilcrease high into the air and he fell flat with force into the
lake.  He could not swim and this was the first time he had been out in a boat
without his life jacket.

Others in the boat with Gilcrease were his niece, Mary Elizabeth Lemoine, and
his aunt, Mrs. C. H. McQuagge, of Shreveport.  After the boat stopped they
were brought to shore by Jack Glynn Bice, Mr. F. T. Brazzell, and a Mr. Slate.

The body of the youth was recoved about 2:30 p.m. by Winn Parish Deputy
Sheriff Troy Kyson, Clarence Durham, and Roy Collins, nearby camp owners. 
Aiding in the investigation were officers of the Natchitoches police
department, Winnfield policemen, and members of the Jackson Parish Sheriff's
Department.

The accident occurred about 300 yards from the Killingsworth camp, where the
Gilcrease family is residing.

Tom Bill Gilcrease was a member of the Laurel Heights Baptist Church, the
training union, and choir.  A senior, he served as one of the projector
operators for the school.  He was also secretary of the FFA chapter.

Funeral Services

Last rites were conducted at the Couley Church Sunday afternoon with Rev.
Waynon Mott, Rev. Mrs. Lula Wardlow, Rev. E. W. Evans, and Rev. W. R. Aikens
officiating.  Burial was in the Couley Cemetery under direction of Southern
Funeral Home.

Pallbearers were Douglas Perdue, Billie Carter, James Thomas, Glynn Mixon,
Donald Nugent, Frank Echols, Thomas Jerry Martin, and Sidney O'Bryan, all
members of the senior class.

Honorary pallbearers were the rest of the members of the senior class, the MYF
of Couley, faculty of Winnfield High School, choir and training union of
Laurel Heights Baptist Church, FFA chapter, John Mitchell, and Eugene Love.

Surviving the youth are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Will S. Gilcrease, and a
sister, Mrs. Lucille Lemoine, all residents of Killingsworth Camp.