Michael Chumley Thomas M.D.

Dr. Michael Chumley Thomas passed away on February 8, 2024, in New York City after a long battle with prostate cancer and related complications. Dr. Thomas was born in Valley Creek, Tennessee on February 2, 1941, to Fred and Nelle Chumley Thomas. He descended from early settlers in East Tennessee on both sides of his family in Blount and Claiborne Counties. A graduate of Fulton High School in Knoxville, class of 1959, and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in 1963, Dr. Thomas received his medical training at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine in Memphis, class of 1967, and interned at Methodist Hospital in Memphis. His General Surgery training was at the University of Tennessee and V.A. Hospitals, also in Memphis. Early in his surgical career, he was associated with the late Drs. Battle Malone and Hugh Francis, Jr., in Memphis. Dr. Thomas later did graduate study in Colon and Rectal Surgery at Louisiana State University and St. Mark’s Hospital, London. He also served as Associate Professor of Colo-rectal Surgery at L.S.U. Following his tenure at L.S.U., Dr. Thomas returned to Memphis where he practiced Colon and Rectal Surgery at Baptist Hospital until his retirement in 2007. Dr. Thomas was a member of the A.M.A. and was a fellow of both the American College of Surgeons and the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. He was certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery. Dr. Thomas served in the United States Army Medical Corps and held the rank of Major at the time of his discharge. He is preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Jack Chumley and Robert F. Thomas, and a sister, Margaret Ann Thomas. Dr. Thomas is survived by his life partner of 35 years, Keith D. Bland, his sisters-in-law, Dolores Chumley and Katherine Thomas, his nieces Mary Beth Blair (husband Tim Blair) and Carole Sue Thomas, nephews Robert S. Thomas (wife Kim), Clark Chumley, Mark Chumley (wife Theresa), grand-nephews Jeffrey Blair, Thomas Chumley, Adam Chumley, grand-nieces Sara Blair, Abagail Chumley Sackenheim (husband Brett) and Samantha Chumley. The Funeral Service for Dr. Thomas will be held on Thursday, February 15, 2024, at 11 AM at Rose Funeral & Cremation Broadway Chapel, 1421 N. Broadway, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37917. He will be buried that afternoon at 3 PM at the Old Irish Cemetery in Tazewell, Tennessee, where several generations of his family are interred. Dr. Thomas requested any memorial donations be made to your local Humane Society or SPCA, or to the charity of donor’s choice. Online obituary and guest register are available at www.rosefuneraltn.com

Tributes

Michael Chumley Thomas M.D.

February 2, 1941 - February 8, 2024