Dr. V. Lynn McCord, M.D.

Born in Frederick, Oklahoma on May 3, 1929, Dr. Vernon Lynn McCord died on Sunday, May 17, 2015. Dr. McCord, a retired anesthesiologist, moved to Baton Rouge in 1963 and he and his medical partner, Dr. Charles D. Belleau, were among the first board certified anesthesiologists in the city. His undergraduate degree was from Louisiana College in Pineville, La. and he graduated in 1957 from LSU Medical School in New Orleans. After his intern year with the U.S. Public Health Service Hospital in Staten Island, New York, he served a year in the Indian Hospital in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He completed his anesthesia residency in Staten Island, New York and then was transferred to Seattle, Washington, where he was chief of The Anesthesiology Department of the U.S. Public Health Hospital for two years before he and his young family moved to Baton Rouge in 1963.

Although, Dr. Lynn spent most of his childhood in Oklahoma and Texas, in 1942 his family moved to New Orleans where he attended Fortier High School. He played football at Fortier and also played football at La. College in Pineville, La. where he met his future wife, Frances Sumrall.

With his ADHD personality, Dr. Lynn had many hobbies through the years. Besides golfing and fishing, the hobby which outlasted all others and was enjoyed most by others was his hobby of Orchid growing. Many of his sons’ friends had an orchid corsage to present to their date because of Dr. Lynn’s hobby. The personnel at the hospitals always appreciated the blooming orchid plants he would put out on display, so as to share their beauty with others. Having grown up in his dad’s bakery business, he enjoyed baking pies and cookies and became known as the “Cookie Man” because of his families Christmas cookie parties, where the groups nurses’, doctors’, and children were allowed to have as many of his cookies as they wanted. Dr. McCord served as Chief of Medical Staff for 2 years at the Baton Rouge General Hospital and was one of the founding partners of BRASS, the first day surgery unit in Baton Rouge. He then served as its first medical director; Dr. Lynn had been an active member of Baton Rouge First Baptist Church since 1963. One of his greatest pleasures was participating in mission trips to many parts of the world; including an untold number of trips to Mexico, twelve trips to India with the Hopegivers International Organization, and nine trips to Romania with RAM- Romanian American Missions. Dr. Lynn, the oldest of five sons was preceded in death by his parents, Leonard W. and Mayme Lynn McCord, his four brothers, James W. McCord and his wife, Lorine Busby McCord, Clarence W. McCord, PhD., S. Joe McCord, PhD. and Jessie S. McCord. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Frances Sumrall McCord; two daughters, Rhonda Johnson and husband, Percy of Montreal, Québec, Canada, Monica Eskine of Baton Rouge; two sons, Tracy McCord and wife Karen of Baton Rouge, and Kody McCord and wife Glenda of Kentwood, La.; eight grandchildren, James and David Johnson, Lauren Eskine Southerland, Allison McCord, Dakota McCord, Kaleigh McCord Pedersen, Carley McCord and Carson McCord; four great grandchildren, Ava and Carter Southerland, Bella Johnson-LeBlanc, and Parker Pedersen; and a special cousin, Carolyn Krumanocker of Midwest City, Oklahoma. The family will receive visitors at Greenoaks Funeral Home, 9595 Florida Blvd. Baton Rouge, La. 70815, on Thursday, May 21, 2015 from 6pm until 9pm. Visitation will resume on Friday, May 22, 2015 at 10am until funeral service at 11am at First Baptist Church. Burial will be at Greenoaks Memorial Park. Friends and family may consider memorial gifts to be sent to RAM, Romanian American Mission, 2801 Hwy. 31 S. Decatur, Alabama 35603 or to Hopegivers International, P.O. Box 8808 Columbus, Georgia 31908 or to Baton Rouge First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1309 Baton Rouge, La. 70821.