Dr. John Crymes

Dr John Crymes passed, April 12, 2023, at 87 years of age. He was born on June 9, 1935, in Greenville, South Carolina.

During his teenage years, he developed an independent streak, hitchhiking to distant cities with his compatriots, Sam McCullough and Tony Harper, to attend bowl games and to view the famous rooftop pool and the bikini-clad ladies at the Warwick Hotel in Houston, Texas. He financed his college education by working numerous jobs, primarily in the oil fields in West Texas.

With training in accounting after graduating from Auburn, he was an auditor for a short time until he was admitted to medical school at the Medical University of South Carolina as the oldest member of the class. He trained first in surgery in El Paso, Texas and San Francisco, California, and ultimately accepted a residency in anesthesia at the University of California Davis in Sacramento, California.

He moved his young family to Savannah, Georgia in 1972, practiced 10 years at Memorial Medical Center in Savannah, and moved his anesthesia practice to St Mary’s in Athens, Georgia in 1983, forming Anesthesia Consultants of Athens with fellow founding partners Linda Ritter, MD and Warren Horn, MD.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Sally Crymes, 4 children, 11 grandchildren, and 1 great-grandchild.

A private memorial service is planned with immediate family. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St Mary’s Hospital in Athens, Georgia or the YMCA of Athens.

Lord and Stephens Funeral Home, WEST, Watkinsville, GA is in charge of arrangements. www.lordandstephens.com