Individual Details

Lynn Mason Garner

(3 Oct 1906 - 20 May 1982)

By Gerard Schultz 1933
Lynn Mason Garner was born in Pollock, Sullivan County, Missouri, of Scotch-Irish and German parents. His father is a practicing physician. His mother passed away a few years ago. Mr. Garner attended grade school in Pollock, Missouri, New York City, Kansas City, Missouri, and Milan, Missouri. He graduated from high school in Milan, Missouri. Then he attended Central College at Fayette, Missouri, for three years followed by two years at Missouri State University, where he received a B.S. Degree from the School of Medicine. From there he went to St. Louis University School of Medicine for two years, where he received his M.D. Degree. He then passed the State Board of Health examination and received his diploma to practice medicine in Missouri. He interned in St. Mary's Hospital, in St. Mary's Infirmary, and Mount St. Rose Tuberculosis Sanatorium, all in St. Louis. He was employed by the Missouri State Board of Health as Infant and Preschool Clinic physician and at times Assistant Director of County Health Departments. While in the State's employ he received a scholarship given by the Rockefeller Foundation. This sent him to Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health in Baltimore, Maryland, for one year. In 1932 he was appointed Director of Miller County's Health Department, where he still remains. He keeps in touch with the progress of the constructive and preventive type of work ordinarily called "Public Health." Dr. Garner is single. He is a member of the Phi Beta Pi Medical Fraternity, the Masonic Lodge, and the American Public Health Association. From Biographies of Miller County.

In 1936 Dr. Lynn Garner was a health officer in Miller Co., Missouri and was being transferred to Greene Co., Missouri. From 1951 to 1956 was listed as working for the Missouri Division of Health and the Bureau of Maternal and Child Health. In 1966 he retired from the State of Missouri. Information gleaned from Jefferson City area newspapers on-line at Ancestry.com.

Social Security Death Index:
Individual: Garner, Lynn
Birth date: 3 Oct 1906
Death date: May 1982
Social Security #: 500-34-4143
Last residence: MO 65101
State of issue: MO

Obituary from Post Tribune, Jefferson City, Missouri Friday, May 21, 1982, Page 2: Dr. Lynn M. Garner, MD, 72, of 403 Meier Dr., died Thursday evening at his home. He was born Oct. 3, 1906, in Sullivan County, a son of Dr. Royal L. and Maggie Mason Garner. On Aug. 10, 1935, he was married at Milan to Esther Smtih, who survives at the home. Dr. Garner received his elementary and secondary education in Milan, did pre medical study at Central College in Fayette, and received a B. S. degree in medicine from the Missouri University Medical School in 1928. In 1930, he received an M.D. degree fro St. Louis University School of Medicine. In 1932, he received a Rockefeller Foundation Scholarship for a year's study at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, where he received a master's degree in public health. His career in public health began in July 1931, when he was employed by the state Board of Health in Jefferson City. From 1932-36, Dr. Garner served as Health officer and county physician for Missouri [Miller] County establishing one of the first county health councils in the state. In 1936, Dr. Garner was transferred to Greene County, where he was health officer and supervised indigent medical care for one year. He then was transferred to Poplar Bluff, where he helped organize and expand the District Health Plan until it covered the state a year later. Dr. Garner was transferred to Miller County to service as health officer and county physician until 1941. From 1941-44, Dr. Garner was district officer in Higginsville, until he was transferred to the central office as director of Maternal and Child Health. He served there until 1957 hen he became director of the Section of Local Health Services. In January 1971, Dr. Garner resumed full-time responsibilities as director of the Section of Local Health Services, and remained there until his Oct. 31, 1972, retirement, following 41 years of service with the state Division of Health. Dr. Garner was a diplomat of the American Board of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, and held the commissioned rank of Medical Director in the U. S. Public Health Services Inactive Reserve. He was a former president of the Missouri Public Health Association, and was the 1959 recipient of MPHA's annual service award, given annually in recognition of outstanding contributions to public health. A past chairman of the State Nutrition Council for seven years, Dr. Garner had served in 1958 as chairman of the Missouri State Health Council, American Public Health Association and the American, Missouri and county medical associations. Dr. Garner was a member of First United Presbyterian Church; the Cole County Medical Society; The Missouri State Medical Association; American Medical Association; Associations of Retired Missouri State Employees; Noon Lions Club; past president of the Higginsvsille Lions Club; Past Presidents Club of the International Association of Lions Clubs; and Jefferson Lodge 43 A.F.& A.M. Other survivors include: a son, Dr. Royal S. Garner, M.D., Jefferson City; a daughter Betty Garner, state of California; a granddaughter and two stepgrandsons. Services are scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Monday at Buescher Memorial Home, with the Rev. Arthur Hughes officiating. Burial will be in Riverview Cemetery. Visitation is 5-8 pm. Sunday. Memorials are suggested to First United Presbyterian Church or School of the Ozarks.

Events

Birth3 Oct 1906Pollock, Sullivan Co., Missouri
Marriage10 Aug 1935Milan, Sullivan Co., Missouri - Esther Vivian Smith
Death20 May 1982Jefferson City, Cole Co., Missouri
Title (Nobility)M. D.
BurialRiverview Cemetery, Jefferson City, Cole Co., Missouri

Families

SpouseEsther Vivian Smith (1908 - 1992)
ChildRoyal Stanley Garner (1940 - )
ChildBetty Garner (1945 - )
FatherRoyal Lansing Garner (1861 - 1943)
MotherMaggie Estella Mason (1871 - 1931)

Endnotes