Obituaries:  Michael Van Malone, 1974, Winn Parish, LA.
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
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From:  March 20, 1974 Winn Parish Enterprise-News American

Michael Malone Found Drowned In Woods Pond

Authorities here say they cannot explain how a 31 year old Winnfield resident
drowned in a Kisatchie Forest pond but they presume he went swimming alone
sometime after 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 14.

The body of Michael Malone, 31, of 411 Elliott Street, was found at 4:30 p.m.
Monday, March 18, floating face down in the Bombing Range Pond, north of U. S.
84 in the vicinity of Gum Springs area.  His car was parked nearby, its engine
turned off, there was a gasoline in the tank.    Malone's clothing was inside the
car, his shoes on the ground, and he was clad in undershorts.

He left here at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 13, to drive to Northwestern State
University in Natchitoches where he was a student.  An alert was put out for him
at 12:25 Thursday, march 14, when he did not return home Wednesday night.

A routine autopsy report is being made.  Sheriff Sanford Jordan's office reported
there were not external signs of injuries on the body and it appeared to be a
case of accidental drowning.

Jordan said Deputy Homer Bryant and Tommy Hughes, a close friend of Malone's,
found the body Monday while checking road bridges where the car may have run off
and then they checked places where Malone had known to go as a boy.

The Bombing Range Pond is used for swimming and fishing and Malone had gone there
often when younger, the sheriff said.

Jordan's office put out a missing person's bulletin Thursday, March 14, and
distributed pictures of Malone Friday.  It did not get any responses as a result
of the public notice, however.

Dr. Peters said the final report from the autopsy would be several days in
returning and he would issue the final coroner's report then.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Southern Funeral Home Chapel
for Michael Van Malone, 31, with Rev. Charles Haley officiating.  Interment was
in the Garden of Memories Cemetery.

Survivors include his parents, Mr. and Mrs. M. V. Malone of Winnfield, one
brother, Jerry Malone of England Air Force Base,  Alexandria, one sister, Mrs.
Marsha Owens of Houston, Texas, his grandmother, Mrs. Angie Malone of Winnfield.