Mike Levi

Mr. Michael “Mike” Carter Levi, age 81, of Murfreesboro, TN passed away Saturday, September 19, 2026. He was a giant man of great adventure. Mike was the biggest baby born in the state of Tennessee when those records were collected in 1945. Growing up in Soddy, he learned to love his family, create fun and of course to tinker with just about anything he touched. After graduating from Soddy Daisy High School, Mike went on to Carson-Newman College. He had quite the athletic career there. Mike developed his love of wrestling and built on his baseball talents as a pitcher. His best pitch was the fast ball, but he loved a good slider, when it was done right. His baseball team won a national championship in 1965. Mike was named All-American in 1965. He talked about that team to anyone who would listen. He met some of his best friends there. And if you asked him why they won he would tell you “because they didn’t know they could lose and they truly loved each other”. And that was the theme for his life.

Mike met Nancy Newman and married her while at Carson-Newman. He began his teaching career shortly after. Jennifer and Jon were born and they moved to Murfreesboro in 1972. While in Murfreesboro, he helped open Oakland High School, he taught at Riverdale High and his last official teaching position was at Blackman High School. “Official” because he never stopped teaching. Mike coached wrestling and baseball throughout his career. His children can tell all the stories of rolling around on the mat with the wrestling teams, traveling to so many gyms, and eating at more than one Piccadilly Cafe. All the wrestlers will tell you about a coach that was leading by example, wrestling with them and holding them accountable even when they won a match. It was through wrestling that Kenny came to be a Levi. Mike saw a need, an opportunity to help and as always, he jumped on it. He was a coach, he was a life long teacher, just ask the grandkids, and he touched the life of everyone he met.

After retirement, he and Nancy loved to travel. You name it they traveled there. One of his favorite trips was when Nancy and he were in Alaska. She had told him, don’t you dare hitchhike and he promptly hitchhiked from above the Arctic Circle, down the state, and over the Chilkoot Trail. They loved Ireland and Scotland. They loved it all. Mike absorbed every place he went and made new friends everywhere he went. After a while the grandkids wouldn’t ask where Grampa had been, they asked what new friends did he make.

After Nancy’s death, he paused but never stopped. Mike met Janice in 2010 and married in 2011. He found a new partner, a new love and headed off on new adventures. He always said “I met the two best women, and I married both of them. Who ever has been that lucky?” Janice and Mike went on many travels, as far as New Zealand and China, bought the cabin he loved in North Carolina, and their favorite part…watching all the grand kids grow up.

Mike’s grandchildren were his pride and joy. He never stopped teaching them. They can tell you stories of camping, traveling and watching countless documentaries where he would say “now watch this, it’s important”. Great grandchildren started arriving and he loved them with the same intensity that he loved everyone. And while the great grands may not remember, those around them will remember for them.

Mike passed away after a brief fight against dementia. The family owes a debt of gratitude to the staff at Alive for loving him like he was their own. He was surrounded by those who loved him both near and far either in thoughts, words or were present holding his hands.

Mike is survived by his wife, Janice Levi; children, Jennifer Levi, Jon Levi and his wife Kristi, Kenny Meredith and his wife Jessica, Travis Millsaps and his wife Gail, and Scott Millsaps; grandchildren, AnnaLevi Chavis and fiancé Jay Garland, Walker Chavis and fiancée Cassie Byrd, Zoe Chavis, Canaan Chavis, KaraLynne Bargatze (Dylan), Madison Alig (Bryce), Roman Meredith, Victoria Meredith, and Bridget Millsaps; and great grandchildren, Leo Chavis, Blaire Bargatze, Emsley and Luna Alig. There are a host of others who loved him including “the aunts” Lyn Newman and Jan Dodson, friends Anne Nunley and Linda Martin. Not to be forgotten, his pups Sadie and Bailey. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Nancy Levi, and brothers, L.W. and Sidney Levi.

To honor Mike’s memory, the family requests donations to Imagination Library, Paws, or Alive Hospice.

Visitation with the family will be Monday, September 21, 2026 from 3:00pm until 5:00pm at Woodfin Memorial Chapel. A memorial service will be held Monday, September 21, 2026 at 5:00pm at Woodfin Memorial Chapel.

For those able to attend, suits are optional (Mike never liked wearing them himself). And because he loved every kid he ever coached, the family would like for ALL former athletes and students to be named as his honorary pallbearers. There will be reserved spaces for you as an honorary pallbearers.

An online guestbook is available for the family at www.woodfinchapel.com. Woodfin Memorial Chapel (615) 893-5151