Larry Hurst, 61, rural Girard, longtime teacher and coach, was pronounced dead in the emergency room of the Girard Medical Center Saturday, Nov. 7. Death was unexpected.

He was born August 5, 1948, in Parsons, to Cecil and Bonnie Jean Stice Hurst. He grew up and attended school in Erie and graduated from Erie High School. He attended Independence Junior College and Pittsburg State University, where he earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

He had been a science and chemistry teacher and coach for 37 years. He taught at Golden City, Mo., three years, Stockton, Mo.,one year and Nevada, Mo., 27 years. He currently was at the Prairie View High School in LaCygne.

Larry served in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War and for 11 years was linebacker coach at Pittsburg State University. He was a member of the Trinity Baptist Church in Pittsburg and had served as a deacon in the First Baptist Church of Nevada and the Calvary Baptist Church of Nevada. He loved hunting and fishing.

On May 23, 1970 he and Judy Newberry were married in Erie.

Survivors include his wife, of the home; a son, Larron Jon Hurst and his wife, Erica, Lakin; a granddaughter, Larra Ann Hurst; nieces and nephews, Mindy Roberts, Kerri Newberry, Nick Newberry, Travis Newberry, Tiffani Hurst; a brother, Lyle Hurst and his wife, Connie, Erie

His parents preceded him in death.

Funeral will be 2 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 11 at the Erie Federated Church. Burial will be in East Hill Cemetery with military honors.

The family will receive friends at the Pierce-Carson-Wall Funeral Home in Erie from 7 to 8 p.m. this evening.

Memorials are suggested to the Prairie View High School Scholarship Fund. They may be left at the funeral home or mailed to P. O. Box 182, Erie, KS 66733.