Obituaries: Eugene Dale Skains, 1966, Winn Parish, LA
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
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From: January 13, 1966 Winn Parish Enterprise News-American

Gun Accident Claims Life of Dale Skains

Eugene Dale Skains, 36 year old electrician and father of six, was found
accidentally shot Wednesday morning on the bank of Cedar Creek 4.5 miles east
of the General Gas storage tanks south of Winnfield on U. S. 167.

Sheriff Sanford Jordan and State Police Lt. Clarence Bates found Skains' body
at 8:30 a.m.  It was slumped across a .410 gauge shotgun.  Evidence was
inconclusive as to how the gun discharged.

Sheriff Jordan said the gun was very easily fired and that a limb near Skains'
body could have tripped him.  Skains left home about 10 a.m. Monday enroute to
the Cedar Creek area to hunt.  His parked car was left on U. S. 167 and 
Tuesday night Bowman Melton reported to Winnfield police the car was on the
road.  Melton said he felt the matter should be checked and the hunt began.

A dozen or so searchers on horseback joined the hunt Wednesday.  Reports of an
autopsy indicated Skains lived three to four minutes after the shot which
struck him in the left side, the Sheriff added.  The Sheriff said he was
grateful for the volunteer aid extended by searchers.

Skains was a native of Winn Parish, a member of Payne-Johnson Post 3800
V.F.W., and a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Winnfield.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Thursday in the chapel of Hixson Brothers
Funeral Home of Winnfield with the Rev. W. R. Gage officiating.  Burial was
in the Vines (believe it should be Zion) Cemetery.

Survivors include his widow; two sons, Russell and Eugene Skains, both of
Winnfield; four daughters, Misses Peggy, Frances, Mary, and Linda, all of
Winnfield; his mother, Mrs. Fannie Skains; a half-brother, L. E. Skains of
Monroe; a sister, Mrs. Sarah S. Blanchard, Jonesboro.