Michael James Hanna, age 72, of Ellijay, Georgia, passed away Friday, May 26th, with his family by his side. He was baorn Jan. 1, 1945.

Michael was born Jan. 1, 1945, in Seattle, Wash.. He spent his preschool years in Milwaukee, Wisc., then lived in Southern California during his school years.  He graduated from University of California at Riverside.  After four years in the Air Force, during which time he earned a Master’s degree in systems management, he returned to school and studied meteorology.  He became interested in education while living in Hawaii and spent the next 43 years teaching many subjects both in Hawaii and Colorado.  He retired from Colorado State University in 2009. Michael and his wife, Sandra, moved to Ellijay in 2012.  After moving to Ellijay, he volunteered with the Blue Ridge Railroad as a train car host.

Michael was an avid reader and in his younger years spent a lot of his spare time restoring their house in Fort Collins.  He loved the outdoors and nature, as well as trains, ships, sailing and genealogy.

He was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors include his wife Sandra Hanna; daughter Okee Hanna, Fort Collins;  sons Jon Hanna, Phoenix, AZ, Bryan Henderson, Freeport, Il, and Jeremy Henderson, Atlanta, GA; grandchildren, Alexi Ammerman, Laura Hanna, Andrew Grant, Jack Hanna, and Ryan Hanna; great-granddaughter Lily Ammerman; sister-in-law Leneva Meadows, Temple, GA. Several nieces, nephews and cousins also survive.

Memorial services will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday in the chapel of Bernhardt Funeral Home with Rev. Allan Tarr officiating.

The family will meet with friends Tuesday from 3:00pm until the service hour of 4:00pm. Flowers are accepted or donations may be made to the American Cancer Society in memory of Michael Hanna.