Lamar County NEWS
February 8, 1963
Gun blast kills local oil worker
A coroner's jury ruled Thursday morning that a Baxterville oil field worker was accidentally killed as the result of a shotgun wound incurred between 12 noon and 4 p.m. Wednesday.
The dead man was identified by Lamar County Sheriff Jas. Patterson as Nathan Baxter, about 42, an employee of Superior Oil Company for nearly 17 years.
Baxter's body was discovered around four o'clock Wednesday afternoon on what is known as Lost John county road about four miles southeast of Baxterville. L. A. Allen found the dead man lying on the ground beside his pickup truck and notified law officials.
Shotgun Fell
Sheriff Patterson said apparently the 16 gauge pump shotgun had been proped on the truck's dashboard and fell shooting him in the right front chest. The truck which Baxter was driving left the road and traveled about 500 feet parallel to the route.
The coroner's jury established that Baxter was in the habit of carrying the shotgun with him in the vehicle. It was found on the floor of the truck pointed in the driver's direction with the stock in the far corner.
It is thought that Baxter was going to his mother's home as he was on the road leading to that area where he was also in the process of building himself a new home.
A native of Baxterville, Baxter was a graduate of Lumberton High School and Pearl River Junior College. He had been employed as a pumper for Superior Oil Co. for about 17 years.
The body will remain at Bounds Funeral Home in Lumberton until time for services at 10 a.m. Friday. Burial will be in the Lumberton cemetery.
Baxter's wife, the former Ruth Daniels died about five years ago.
Coroner's Jury
Members of the coroner's jury who investigated were Deputy Sheriff Ray Chastain, foreman, Joe Oakes, W. W. Chambers, Buddy Houston, V. Davis, and Webster Daniels, Jr.
Survivors include a 13-year-old son, Gary, and a six-year-old daughter, Susan; his mother, Mrs. Ella Baxter of Baxterville; five brothers, Rankin of Baxterville, Richard H. of Lumberton, R. J. of New Orleans, Joe W. of Montgomery, Ala., James E. of Prentiss; and one sister, Mrs. Jack Throckmorton of Jackson.

Article submitted by; Barbara VanDuser