Troy Middleton McCollough died attempting to save Kelly Bailey and Keeley Bailey from drowning, Merryville, Louisiana, August 26, 2022. Around sunset, Bailey, 28, was holding onto his daughter, Keeley, 7, in the strong current of the Sabine River as they were among six people in their group being carried downstream near a beach. Bailey’s partner held onto her own daughter, 6, while Bailey’s friend grasped the partner’s 4-year-old son. Alerted by calls for help, McCollough, 57, a flooring business owner, moved to the water’s edge, where he removed his boots while he advised his wife to call 911 despite her warning him not to enter the water, near where the couple’s three friends had drowned years before. His wife left the immediate area to retrieve a phone to contact authorities and seek help from a couple camping nearby. Bailey’s partner briefly saw McCollough going to the aid of Bailey and Keeley before losing sight of McCollough, who ultimately entered the river and submerged. While Keeley had grasped onto an exposed branch in the river, Bailey, as well as his friend and the boy, went underwater and did not resurface. A camper swam out to save Bailey’s partner and her daughter, then he re-entered the river with a float to reach Keeley, and he towed her to the beach. Keeley, the partner and her daughter, and the camper were not injured. First-responders searched the scene into the darkness that night without finding any of the missing four. Search crews eventually found McCollough the next day, Bailey and his friend two days after, and the boy three days after he submerged. All had drowned.
10469-Obituary
Troy Middleton McCollough, 57, of Merryville, LA, passed from this life on Saturday, August 27, 2022.
Those left to cherish his memory are his loving wife, Susie McCollough of Merryville, LA; daughters, Elizabeth Carter and Dustin of San Antonio, TX, Suzette Romero of DeRidder, LA; mother, Andle “Edie” McCollough of Liberty, TX; brothers, James McCollough and Renee of Merryville, LA, Leo McCollough, Jr. of Liberty, TX; sisters, Carolyn Renfro and Edward of Kenefick, TX, Essie Taylor of Liberty, TX, Ella McCollough of Liberty, TX, Marilyn Dougharty of Vinton, LA, Lou Rawlinson of Liberty, TX; grandchildren, Damion Romero, Joslynn Romero, Colton Carter, Olivia Carter, Evelynn Lewis and a host of cousins, family and friends. To name a few of his many nieces and nephews, Amanda, Kyle, Madison, and Zayden Gill; Leigh, Felisha, Leighlah, Lola and Codee Pruitt.
He was preceded in death by his father, Jesse Leo McCollough; sisters, Andle McMillen, Linda Scholars.