John Christopher Ethridge II

Published 6:00 am Tuesday, April 24, 2012

    Services for John Christopher “Chris” Ethridge II will be held Wednesday, at 2:30 p.m., at Robert Barham Family Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Alan Singletary officiating. Burial will be in Magnolia Cemetery with Robert Barham Family Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

    Mr. Ethridge, 65, of Meridian, passed away peacefully on Monday, April 23, 2012, at Anderson Regional Medical Center. Chris is a widely celebrated musician, bassist and song-writer, a founding member of the highly influential country-rock band “The Flying Burrito Brothers”. His work as a studio session player in the heyday of the Los Angeles rock-and-roll recording industry is the focus of many musicologists, and recognized as a tremendously influential body of work. A talented songwriter, Chris penned music that is still relevant today and he will be missed by his many thousands of friends and fans, and those musicians who have long been and continue to be influenced by the tremendous volume of ground-breaking music he leaves behind.

    Survivors include the mother of his children, Karen Sue; daughter, Necia Ethridge (Shane Atkinson) of Taos, N.M.; sons: John Christopher Ethridge III (Holly Bird), and George Zachary Clifford Ross Ethridge; grandchildren: Zoe Larsen, Deva Larsen, Breanne Larsen, Emma Atkinson, John Austin Ethridge, Enecia Ethridge, Cierra Ethridge, and Warren Ethridge; mother, Eleanor McWilliams Ethridge; brothers: Tommy Ethridge and Holly Morgan, Joey Ethridge; long-time friend, Rosemary Onishi of Meridian; and dozens of members of a close and loving extended family.

    He was preceded in death by his father, John Christopher Ethridge; Sharone, his loving Doberman; grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

    Pallbearers will be Donny McWilliams, Bo Denton, David Zettler, Kenny Suire, Cliff Morgan, and Jerry Snell.

    Honorary pallbearers are George Polizzi and Mike Sides.

    Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at robertbarhamffh.com.

    Visitation will be today, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the funeral home.