Extracted from The News-Star (Monroe, LA)
Fire, Drowning Tragedies Hit Inside Monroe
Alvin Crenshaw Asphyxiated In Early Morning
An early morning blaze in a southside house resulted in the second violent death in Monroe within 12 hours.
Dead from asphyxiation and burns about the body was Alvin Crenshaw, about 45, who lived at 501 Ouachita Avenue. The fire was reported at 3:12 a.m.
About 3 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, a 35-year-old Columbia man, Huey P. Gregory, drowned in Bayou DeSiard near the Loop Road on the north side of Monroe.
Crenshaw, who lived on one side of the duplex building was found in his bed in the northwest bedroom of the house. His body was badly burned. Firemen expressed the belief he died of asphyxiation before the flames reached the room.
Mrs. Crenshaw was reported to have been in Farmerville and was notified of the death early today.
Two other residents, occupying an apartment on the east side of the house escaped without injury.
The fire was believed by firemen to have started in the front of the house, in the living room and moved through the apartment extensively damaging the entire west side. The east side was damaged slightly.
Firemen fought the fire about two hours before bringing it under control.
Investigation into the origin was continuing late today.
The body of Crenshaw was taken to Mulhearn Funeral Home, pending contact with relatives.
The drowning victim, Gregory was reportedly rounding up cattle across Bayou DeSiard from the Loop Road, when he was thrown or fell from a horse into the water. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.
Gregory was pulled from the water by Kenny Cagle, Northeast State College student who lives at 324 Loop Road. Cagle told officers he heard someone screaming later identified as Gregory, and rushed out in time to see him flailing in the water. Cagle got into a boat and paddled out to Gregory, who by that time had gone under the water.
He was rushed to the hospital but pronounced dead on arrival.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday in the Columbia Methodist Church with the Rev. D. T. Williams and the Rev. Jimmy Bolton officiating. Burial, under the direction of Riser and Son Funeral Home in Columbia, will be in the Welcome Home cemetery.
He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Marva Lee Gregory, Columbia, two daughters, Michelle Gregory and Michawn and two sons, David and Steven, all of Columbia; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Gregory, Columbia; maternal grandfather, B. B. Coates, Columbia; one sister, Mrs. Elsie McLemore, Pasadena, Texas; seven brothers, Jack of Lovington, Eunice, N. M., Jerry Gregory, Pasadena, Tex., Don, Leonard, and Bobby Gregory, all of Columbia.
Thursday, February 22, 1962