Dr. Robert Keith Etheridge

Dr. Robert Keith Etheridge, 97, of Taylorville, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at his home surrounded by his family. Dr. Etheridge, who went by “Keith” and “Doc” was born November 1, 1927, in Greeley, CO, the son of Absalom and Zula (DeBarr) Etheridge.  He married Reva Alice (Fort) Etheridge in 1956.  After 50 years of marriage Reva preceded Keith in death in 2006.

Dr. Etheridge’s surviving descendants include  his children, Ellen (George) Mozurkewich of Albuquerque, NM, Alice (George) Danilovich of Winfield, IL, and Thomas Etheridge of Taylorville; five grandchildren, Nadia (Mark Hilkert) Danilovich of Oak Park, IL; Nina Danilovich of Austin, TX, Nicholas (Summer) Danilovich of Naperville, IL, Daniel Mozurkewich of Chicago, IL, and David Mozurkewich of Albuquerque, NM; a great-grandchild, Sullivan Hilkert of Oak Park, IL.  Dr. Etheridge was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Reva, and his brother, Dr. Laurence Etheridge.

Dr. Etheridge graduated from Pana High School at age 17 in 1945, then enlisted in the Army Air Force in the waning months of World War II.  After leaving the army, he enrolled in Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois, and then attended the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, where he earned his doctorate in veterinary medicine in 1953.  Dr. Etheridge was the founder of Etheridge Animal Hospital; he enjoyed a long career caring for Christian County’s farm animals and family pets.  Dr. Etheridge’s love for animals was boundless; he cherished the many animals and their humans he got to know through his work.  In his family life, Dr. Etheridge enjoyed a succession of canine companions, of whom the most recent was his beloved Chihuahua mix, Khloe.  In Dr. Etheridge’s retirement he enjoyed spending time outside on his farm in Palmer, cooking, genealogy, playing Bridge and Hearts, documenting his life experiences, visiting with his grandchildren, and watching the Fighting Illini and the St. Louis Cardinals.

The family wishes to express their gratitude for the devoted care provided by Doc’s team of caregivers.  The family also wishes to express gratitude to Doc’s dear friends, Ted and Patty Chapman.

A celebration of life/graveside service will be held at Oak Hill Cemetery in Taylorville at 4 PM on Saturday, May 31, 2025.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Christian County YMCA, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, or the Taylorville Public Schools Foundation.