SHERMAN, Keith Conover - b. January 5, 1927 - d. April 2, 2015

[patyrn]

Keith Conover Sherman, 88, departed this life on Thursday, April 2, 2015.  He was born January 5, 1927 in Independence, Kansas to Samuel A. and Buena B. Sherman.

Keith was one of eight children and was reared in Moline, Kansas, graduating from Moline High School.  He served in the United States Navy during World War II and the Korean Conflict.  He was attending school at Pittsburg State Teachers College majoring in pre-med when he was re-called to the Navy and served aboard the aircraft carrier USS Leyte during the Korean Conflict.  He returned to school in 1955 at Kansas State University and received his Bachelor of Science and Doctorate of Veterinarian Medicine degrees in 1954 and 1958.  He practiced a short time in Nickerson, Kansas but spent most of his career at the National Animal Disease Center in Ames, Iowa as a diagnostic veterinary pathologist.  He received a Post Doctorate Master's Degree in Veterinarian Pathology at Iowa State University in 1962.  His employment offered the opportunity to work in Africa for six months; England where he worked at the London Zoo on two different occasions; South America; and Haiti where he established a laboratory for the United States Government.  He had been on five of the seven continents.  He was later transferred to the main office in Washington, D.C. and served on the Swine Disease staff and the Animal Care staff where he wrote the regulations for Sea World in Orlando, Florida.  He was, at that time, in charge of the 48 state federally funded zoos in the United States.  Following that, he went into administrative work and was Assistant Federal Veterinarian in Charge of both Kansas and Missouri and was Federal Veterinarian in Charge of the state of North Carolina, retiring in 1987.

Keith was a life member of the American Legion Post #107 of Chanute, Kansas and VFW Post #1654 of Chanute, Kansas.  He served as Commander of both of these military organizations.  He was a member of the Chanute Elks Lodge.  He was a 32nd degree Mason with a membership of 56 years.  His memberships also included Virginia Lodge #315 of Savonburg, Kansas of which he was a Past Master three times; Mirza Shrine of Pittsburg, Kansas; Quetzalcoatl; Shrine Units of MGs; Legion of Honor; Life Member of the Sword of Bunker Hill; Past Masters Club; Tri County Club; and Chanute Shrine Club.  He was a former member of Jestors; Red Cross of Constantine; and the Commander of the York Rite in Iola, Kansas.  He had been President of the Mirza Past Masters Club, Chanute Shrine Club, Tri County Shrine Club, and Mirza MG Unit.  He was a life member of the Valley of Fort Scott Scottish Rite.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Rosemary of the home; his daughter, Valerie Ann Durbin and husband, Dan of Arkansas City, Kansas; his son, David Keith Sherman and wife, Patty of Solon, Iowa; his grandsons, Dustin Durbin and Casey Durbin; his granddaughters, Kelly Sherman and Emily Sherman; his great-grandson, Dylan Durbin; and his sisters, Pat Henshaw and Barbara Hendricks, both of Winfield, Kansas.  He was preceded in death by his parents; four sisters, Meridith Sherman, Lauree Shay, Genelle Campbell, and Mary Ellen Kelly; and a brother, Rex Sherman.

Cremation has taken place, and there will be no visitation.  A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Thursday, April 9, 2015 at the First United Methodist Church, 202 S. Lincoln, Chanute, Kansas at 10:30 a.m.  Interment will be at 2:30 p.m. at the Moline Cemetery in Moline, Kansas with military honors.  The family suggests memorials to the Shriners Hospital for Children and may be sent in care of Countryside Funeral Home, 101 N. Highland, Chanute, Kansas 66720.  Online condolences may be left at www.countrysidefh.com.

(taken from the Countryside Funeral Home website)