Michael Stephen Hannah

TN, after a brave battle with pancreatic cancer.

Mike, as he was called by friends and family, was born in Knoxville on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 1946, to Benjamin Taylor Hannah Sr. and Ruth Elise Ruhl Hannah and grew up in the Hannah family house on Maryville Pike. He attended Mt. Olive School and graduated from Young High School in Knoxville. After getting his bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee, he had an accomplished career as an accountant and worked in Knoxville, Nashville, Atlanta, and Hilton Head Island. His last job before retiring was with the FDIC in Washington, D.C. After retiring, he lived in the Great Smoky Mountains for about 24 years. He grew up in the Presbyterian church and lived a life of quiet faith.

Mike loved his family. He was devoted to his parents, and he was a loving brother and uncle to his siblings, nieces and nephews. After his father’s death and the loss of the family home to a fire, he became a patriarch of the Hannah family, watching over his mother and siblings in his own sweet, stoic way. He enjoyed hosting family in his homes at Hilton Head Island, S.C.; Kent Island, MD; and the cabin in Gatlinburg. Mike loved the water and in his younger days could be found sailing or boating for hours on end. He loved watching UT football and baseball, KFC, Chinese food and blackberry cobbler. Mike listened to all kinds of music and had a vast music library. He had such a vibrant mind and could talk about many subjects quite fluently, and his home was filled with books. He enjoyed researching the family’s genealogy and taking family photos. His factual knowledge was phenomenal as he could easily recount family, world, U.S. and local history and events and loved sharing it with others. Although he suffered from Friedreich’s Ataxia for more than 30 years, he rarely complained about it and still maintained a matter-of-fact attitude and quick dry wit. He designed a garage apartment at his family home and remodeled the family cabin in Gatlinburg, adding a garage, carport, hot tub structure, gazebo and garage apartment on the property. He also provided a loving home to a host of dogs and cats over the years. When he was pleased with something, he expressed it clearly by exclaiming, “Outstanding!”

Mike is preceded in death by his parents, Ben and Elise; his brother, Benjamin Taylor Hannah Jr.; nephew, Daniel Aubrey Hannah; and brother-in-law James Derda.

He is survived by his sisters, Sherry Elizabeth Hannah Derda and Elise “Lisa” Hannah Huff (Paul); brother, Peter Jeremy Hannah (Gina); nieces, Shannon Hannah Damian, Stacy Hannah Ott, Roxanne Elise Derda, Sarah Hannah Lilly, Emily Elise Huff, Katie Huff Cline, Rachel Huff Poland, and Erin Li Hannah; nephews, Ian Hannah and Joby Hannah; grand nieces, Hanna Ott OHalloran, Isabella Damian, Abbey Ott, and Gabriella Damian; grand nephews, Mason Ott and Giancarl Damian; many cousins across the globe; former sister-in-law Ida Beach and sister-in-law Melissa Hannah; honorary brother and sister Jamie Martin and Yolanda Harper who were loving caregivers for 15 years, and many friends.

A celebration of Mike’s life will be held Saturday, May 16, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at Crosswalk Community Church, 2131 East Governor John Sevier Highway, Knoxville. Services will be officiated by Pastor Ryan Randolph with no funeral home involvement. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 2174.