Extracted from The Monroe Morning World (Monroe, LA)
Saturday, February 21, 1959

Bodies Of 2 Area Men Drowned In Lake Recovered

JENA (Special) -- Catahoula Lake yesterday yielded the bodies of cousins Archie Bignar and Irvin Bignar of Nebo.

Dragging operations in the lake, six to eight feet deep in most places, began Monday when the two men failed to return from a boating expedition.

The boat was spotted turned upside down near Hemp's Point Monday night. It was near that spot the bodies were found.

Searchers first found the body of Archie Bignar at 2:20 yesterday afternoon after having recovered a wrist watch belonging to Irvin Bignar about noon.

Approximately 30 minutes after the first body was recovered, Irvin Bignar's body was lifted from the lake.

Neighbors said the two went to try out a new motor on their boat.

Double funeral services are set 2 p. m. Saturday at Nebo Baptist Church with interment in Tidwell Cemetery.

Kenner-Stevens Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Irvin Bignar is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. White Bignar; a brother, William White Bignar, two sisters, Mrs. Ada Elaine Stapleton, and Mrs. Doris Bell.

Archie Bignar is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Earl Bignar, two brothers, Sam and Robert of Nebo; six sisters, Mrs. Lillian Paul, Nebo; Mrs. Onie Davidson, Montgomery; Mrs. Edna Walker, Nebo; Mrs. Jennie Walker, Nebo; Mrs. Elsie Evans, Jena and Mrs. Sallie Starnes, Nebo.