Extracted from The News-Star (Monroe, LA)
Friday, May 3, 1974

Early Morning House Fire Fatal To Resident Here

A 71-year-old West Monroe man was the victim of a pre-dawn fire today which apparently was caused from smoking in the bed, West Monroe Fire Department officials reported.

Officials identified the victim as Waymon N. Johnston, of 5051/2 South 2nd St., West Monroe.

When firemen arrived at the scene around 2:28 a.m. today, Johnston, struggling to escape was found lying on the kitchen floor. He was rushed to Glenwood Hospital by Gentry's Ambulance where he was pronounced dead on arrival according to reports.

Authorities said the five [sic fire] originated in the bedroom and the cause was attributed to smoking in bed.

With the quick response of the fire department, the blaze was confined to the bedroom of the one-story tri-plex structure. Three units were dispatched to the scene.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday in the chapel of Kilpatrick's Funeral Home of West Monroe with the Rev. Fred Keys officiating.

Burial will be in Sharon Cemetery in Sykes [sic Sikes].

Survivors include four sons, W. N. Johnston Jr. of Greensboro, N.C., Shermon Johnston of Shreveport, Dalton Johnston of Natchitoches, and Glenn Johnston of West Monroe; four brothers, Waynnie Johnston of West Monroe, Floyd Johnston of Sykes [sic Sikes], C. C. Johnston of Bastrop, and Roy Johnston of Monroe; one sister, Mrs. Mable Calhoun of Sykes [sic Sikes]; 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.