Jim Lindsey, M.D.

Jim was born in San Angelo, Texas, on January 30, 1943, the oldest son of Bettye (Fuller) Lindsey and William H. Lindsey, M.D.

With the end of World War II in 1945, his father’s military service as a U.S. Air Corps pilot concluded, and the family moved to Little Rock, Arkansas, then later to various towns throughout Texas as his father pursued a medical career. Especially fond of the years spent in the small west Texas town of Eldorado, Jim spent many hours with his mother, developing a special bond that lasted a lifetime.

The Lindseys eventually settled in Dallas in the 1950s, where Jim was very proud to be in the 1958 inaugural freshman class at the new Kimball High School. At Kimball, he met and started “going steady” with Margie Lynne McVey, his high school sweetheart, future wife, and the love of his life. “Captain Jim” shined athletically and scholastically. He was co-captain of the football team, played varsity basketball, served as student council president, and graduated co-valedictorian of the class of ’61. The outstanding honors of Jim’s youth mirrored the extraordinary life his future would hold.

After receiving a national scholarship, Jim attended Harvard College in Cambridge, MA, joining the class of 1965. At Harvard, he played one year of football for the Crimson. Throughout his undergraduate years, his professors fostered his aptitude for science and medicine, and Jim eventually graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree, magna cum laude, in biology. After college, he attended Medical School at Washington University in St. Louis, graduating in 1969 as a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society. He followed his medical degree with an internship and residency training in Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern in his home state of Texas. Jim then spent two years in Atlanta, Georgia, where he served in the Epidemic Intelligence Service for the CDC. During this time, he traveled throughout the United States to investigate various hospital infectious disease outbreaks and quality control. In 1973, he returned to UT Southwestern to complete subspecialty training in pulmonary disease.

After completing his training, Jim, Margie, and their children Billy, Carrie, and Mark moved to Austin, Texas, where he established his career, nurtured a family, and built his time-honored home. Jim joined Capital Medical Clinic as their Pulmonary Disease Specialist and spent 13 years in private practice caring for many Austinites. He had a special gift for helping the sickest patients in an intensive care setting. During this time, he became highly regarded in the medical community. Jim served on many hospital leadership committees, generously dedicating his time to help improve the delivery of medical care in the Austin area. This involvement piqued his interest in improvement science, and in 1989, he began work as Chief Medical Officer for Seton Hospital. During his 23-year career in medical administration, Seton expanded to a 14-hospital healthcare network. His leadership helped guide the growth and quality of healthcare at Seton and in the greater Austin area.

Particularly proud of his involvement in medical education, Jim’s passion for teaching was evidenced by his many years serving as an attending physician at Brackenridge Hospital, where he helped train many residents and interns. The knowledge and counseling he provided to these young medical professionals helped launch their careers. In addition to direct patient care, he spent many years coordinating teaching programs. Prior to retirement, he helped establish The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, a gratifying accomplishment in his effort to expand the quality of healthcare in Austin by providing local medical education from the earliest stages of a physician’s career.

A member of the Westlake United Methodist Church for many years, Jim was a man of unwavering Christian faith. Alongside his church involvement, he sponsored and mentored many Emmaus peers during spiritual retreats called “Walks to Emmaus.” Through these experiences, his Emmaus community became a continuously bright spot in his life.

Jim genuinely loved life and enjoyed many hobbies, including backpacking in the mountains, traveling, shooting pool, reading mystery novels, jogging, golfing, solving puzzles, and playing cards. Ever the competitor, any win had to be earned, and every grandchild can quote his favorite saying, “A card laid is a card played.” When it came to sports, he caught every Celtic and Packers game he could and patiently coached many little league sports teams, passing on his love of competition to the next generation. Jim loved dancing and listening to rock ‘n’ roll, with the Beatles providing the soundtrack to his life. He shared many favorite “our” songs with Margie. Forever high school sweethearts, he and Margie also still enjoyed regular dates to the movies. At home, he fancied himself as an amateur chef and always looked forward to monthly gourmet and wine clubs. He could also whip up a mean stack of pancakes.

Above all, Jim was a family man, and that is how he wants to be remembered. A devoted husband, fantastic dad, and loving granddaddy, his integrity and steadfast strength touched the lives of so many people. When with his loved ones, Jim laughed loudly, generously opening his home and heart.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents Bill and Bettye Lindsey. Jim is survived by his wife and sweetheart of 63 years, Margie Lindsey, son Billy Lindsey and daughter-in-law Tracy Lindsey and their children Avery and Alex, daughter Carrie McKenzie and son-in-law Luke McKenzie and their son J.J., son Mark Lindsey and daughter-in-law Carrie Lindsey and their children Emily and Cameron, his sister Susan Holey and brother-in-law Erling Holey, sister Lori Simon, and brother-in-law Craig Simon, sister-in-law Dianne McVey, brother-in-law Jack McVey, sister-in-law Gayle McVey as well as many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and numerous extended family members. In addition, Jim is preceded in death by his in-laws Raymond and Juanita McVey, Christy Mora, and Stacy McVey.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of Jim and Margie’s favorite charities: Community First of Austin, Hospice Austin, or Swan Songs Musical Last Wishes. Margie and the rest of the Lindsey family would like to express their gratitude to their extended family, their many loving friends, and Hospice Austin for taking such great care of Jim during his last years.

A Memorial Service will be held on Monday, September 12, 2022 at Westlake Hills United Methodist Church, 1460 Redbud Trail, Austin, Texas 78746 at 2:30 PM.