Melanie T. Carmichael, 69, formerly of Addison

CROSSVILLE, Tenn. — Melanie T. Carmichael, 69, of Crossville, Tenn., passed away Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026, at Parkwest Medical Center in Knoxville, Tenn.

She was born Oct. 24, 1956, in St. Albans, Vt., to Rolla J. Thomas and Mildred Piper.

Melanie loved farming and her cows. She knew every name of every cow she ever owned. Her love of cows and farming made her a fixture of the Addison County Fair and Field days, where she was on the Board of Directors in the 1990s. She was even dubbed “the cow lady” on the “Corm and the Coach” radio show which she frequently called in to.

Melanie was passionate about things and people that were important to her. She had amazing friendships — lasting decades — with friends she would do anything for. She was a college basketball fanatic, especially when it came to the Vermont Catamounts and the Tennessee Volunteers. She even spent the night outside the Patrick Gymnasium to get tickets to the big game.

She is survived by her husband of 44 years, David Carmichael; children David “Drew” Carmichael and wife Hannah, Megan Carmichael, and Alison Sisco and husband Dan; grandson, Christian Sisco; granddaughters, Annabelle Sisco, Amelia Carmichael, Madeline Carmichael, and Emerson Carmichael; brother, Rolla J. Thomas and wife Susan; and nephew, Justin Thomas and wife Jennifer, and their children Bryan and Bridget.

She was an honorary grandmother to Jonathan and Jocelyn Deering. She was not only an amazing mother of three and grandmother to five but also unofficially adopted her children’s friends and others.

Melanie was preceded in death by her parents.

There will be no calling hours. A celebration of life will be held at a future date.

Arrangements and Care are provided by Bilbrey Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Crossville, Tenn. ◊