George Lipsey, MD's Obituary
GEORGE GARTLEY LIPSEY, MD, born in Memphis, TN, October 11, 1934, one of thirteen children to John Wright Lipsey and Lillian Turner Lipsey, died September 5, 2012 from complications related to Parkinson’s disease. Dr. Lipsey devoted his life to God, family, medicine and country and was a champion of generosity to those in need. He was a life long Christian continuing to gain strength in his Lord during his debilitating disease. He accepted the challenges of Parkinson’s with the same grace and determination by which he lived his life. Friends often spoke of Dr. Lipsey as “a man of character and integrity”. Borrowing a phrase, George was an “everyday man who did extraordinary things”. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, two sisters, and three brothers – Juanita Enochs, Sara Irwin, Howard Lipsey, Malcolm Lipsey and John William Lipsey. He is survived by his loving wife and childhood sweetheart, Barbara Irvine Lipsey, whom he married September 18, 1954; three sons and one daughter – Steven (Abigail) of Knoxville, TN, Thomas (Joni) of Cincinnati, Ohio, Richard (Sandy) of Atlanta, GA, and Nicole Lipsey Gustafson (Brooke) of Arlington, VA; eleven grandchildren – David (Nicole), Rebecca, Cynthia, Jonathan, Caleb, James, Brad, Paige (Matt), Andrew, Micah, Ella, and three great-grandchildren, Leighton, Reid and William. He is also survived by six sisters and one brother – Mercedes King, Barbara Hallmark, Mary Reasor, Margaret Pressley, Patsy Baker, Carol Wells and David Lipsey. He was proud to be known as a “SCRAPPER” graduating from the original South Side High School in 1952. He graduated from Memphis State College, with a BS Degree in 1962, graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine in 1966 and completed his internship at Tampa General Hospital, Tampa, FL in 1968. He interrupted his Medical Training to proudly serve his country as a Captain in the United State Medical Corps during the Vietnam Conflict in 1968 and 1969. He completed his Medical Residency in Anesthesia at The University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA in 1971. Dr. Lipsey and the family returned to Memphis in 1971, where he was invited to join Affiliated Anesthesiologists, PC. Dr. Lipsey was a member of the American Medical Association and the American Society of Anesthesiologists. Dr. Lipsey performed the first Anesthesia Surgical procedure at Baptist East Hospital, the first Anesthesia Surgical Procedure at East Memphis Surgical Center and served as Director of Medicine at East Memphis Surgical Center. He faithfully practiced Anesthesia for thirty-one years in the Memphis Baptist Hospital System until his retirement in 2002. Dr. Lipsey was a consummate “Grill Chef”. He and his wife enjoyed sharing their home and George’s “famous” beef tenderloin with family, friends and colleagues. His love of travel and golf brought him pleasure throughout his lifetime until he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2004 but continued to travel and play the game as his health permitted. The family wishes to acknowledge the loving care and friendship by the staff in Job’s Way, Kirby Pines. The family also wishes to express their sincere gratitude to the caring staff at Crossroads Hospice. The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, September 7 at Memorial Park Funeral Home, Poplar Avenue. A Celebration of Life will be held at Christ United Methodist Church, Wilson Chapel on Saturday, September 8 at 11 a.m., with Dr. Lipsey’s son, Rev. Dr. Thomas Brian Lipsey officiating. Interment in Memorial Park Cemetery. The family requests that you consider making memorial gifts to the Church Health Center, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Christ United Methodist Church, 4488 Poplar Avenue. Memorial Park Funeral Home, “Behind the stone wall”, 901-767-8930.
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