GARY — Sidney R. “Sid” Cure, 76, of Gary, passed away Tuesday, November 26, 2013 at Raleigh General Hospital in Beckley.

Born September 25, 1937 in Elkhorn City, KY. He was the son of the late Lester (Buck) Cure and Rose Marie (Wallace) Cure. He was preceded in death by brothers: Robert (Bobby) Cure and John (Bucky) Cure and sister-in-law, Flora (Bridgeman) Cure and brother-in-law, Charlie Bryant and nephew, Robbie Bryant.

Sidney is survived by his wife of 47 years, Maria (Colombo) Cure of Gary, and son, Dr. Robert (Bojo) Cure and wife Suzanne (Jones) Cure of Barboursville, WV and one brother, James Burton Cure of Bluefield, WV and one sister, Delores Bryant, of Tacoma, WA. Four nephews, Casey Cure and wife Melissa Cure of Bluefield, WV, Charlie Bryant of Seattle, WA, Donnie Bryant of Tacoma, WA and Joey Bryant of Palm Spring, CA.

Sidney enjoyed his wife’s large Italian family which included many, many nieces and nephews as well as many great and great-great nieces and nephews, along with many cousins, aunts and uncles.

Sidney attended Gary High School and was a member of the Class of 1955. He graduated from Morehead State University and received his masters +45 from West Virginia University. He had three articles on football published in various sports magazines. Sidney was the owner and operator of several businesses in McDowell County, including “Gary Quick Stop”, “The Coaldigger Lounge & Restaurant”, “Sid’s Car Wash”, and “The Maitland Curve Restaurant”.

Sidney started teaching at Gary High School in 1960, where he became head football coach and won two State Championships, 1966 and 1970. He then became football coach at Bluefield State College in 1972 through 1974 and later was named athletic director. Sidney was the manager of the Gary Country Club, along with Golf Pro. After retirement, he coached Berwind Broncos to their first county championship. When Mount View opened their doors in 1978, they tapped Sidney to become the first head football coach.

Sidney retired from teaching in 1989, although he continued to substitute teach in many McDowell County Schools until 1 and 1/2 years ago, when he became ill after a fall. Sidney was president of the Gary High School Alumni Association and he was curator of the Gary High School Museum. He was a member of the Mighty Welch Lions Club where he was a past president and he belonged to the Bluefield Elks Club. He was Kentucky Colonel and a member of the Cave Owners Association of Virginia. Sidney was an original member of the McDowell County Sports Hall of Fame.

Sidney was a member of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Gary. He was an avid golfer and dedicated West Virginia University football fan, even carrying the mascot’s large “WVU” flag across the field at one game.

The family will receive friends at the Fanning Funeral Home in Welch on Sunday, December 1, 2013 from 6-9 p.m. with a prayer vigil service to be held at 7 p.m.

Mass of Christian burial will be held on Monday, December 2, 2013 at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Gary, with Father Dass officiating. Entombment will follow at the Waterfall Mausoleum at Woodlawn Memorial Park, Bluewell, WV.

Pallbearers will be nephews: Gino Colombo, Cecil Patterson, William Patterson, Nicholas Patterson, Russell Brown and Punchy Flippen. Honorary pallbearers will be the Mighty Welch Lions Club.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, PO Box 130, Gary, WV  24836 or Gary Alumni Association Museum Fund, 1212 College Avenue, Bluefield, WV  24701.

The Fanning Funeral Home of Welch is serving the Cure family.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.fanningfuneralhomes.com