Nossef "Whitey" B. Sawyer

Nossef B. "Whitey" Sawyer, passed away on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at the age of 92. He was born in Maine in 1932 to Nossef Sawyer and Dorothy Baker Sawyer. He was a man of gentle character, well read, and beloved by those who shared his life with him.

As a young man in Maine, he worked on commercial fishing vessels. He served in the Merchant Marines during the Korean War. After studying at the University of Miami, he earned his personal pilot's license and logged many thousands of hours. Whitey became an artful journalist working in Florida and Texas before settling in Michigan. He interviewed, was friends with and remembered by many celebrities including Gordie Howe, Alex Karras, Tigers and Lions, various people of influence, and even President Lyndon Baines Johnson. Whitey's team at the Associated Press was second in line for a Pulitzer Prize for reporting during the Detroit riots in the 60's.

As a member of the Press, Whitey became acquainted with Detroit journalists and photographers who shared something else in common with him; a love of the outdoors. As the decades rolled by, Whitey enjoyed the company of many fellow outdoorsmen. He hunted, fished, and camped his way into the souls of many fellow outdoorsmen. Whitey's "The Outsider" column for the Muskegon Chronicle, and his outdoor column for the Oceana Herald ran for decades as he worked commercially into his late eighties.

In his outdoor columns, the Rugged Outdoorsman, as he called himself, often shared a bit of good advice, usually learned the hard way with his cadre of close friends. Characters like Ratface McDougal, Bobby Two-knives, Art The Bear, Johnny Hex, The Fur Bearing Animal, and Deputy Joe were real people who were close to his heart. When Ratface McDougal passed away, Whitey stepped in and taught his grandson many of the things his grandpa would have taught him.

Whitey loved the late 18th century history. He participated in reenactments at the White River Gun Club. He loved hunting wild turkey with his black powder smoothbore and his friends gunsmithing and calling. This was often at the private campground they founded, DAFT (Department of Alcohol, Firearms and Tobacco.)

When Whitey became one of the senior members of the group, he used to bristle when a younger fellow would rib him about taking him to the rivers edge in a wheelchair. But as he got older, he began to rethink that position, leaving strict instructions.

"You better pick me up and take me to camp!"

The weekend before his passing, his son David obeyed his father one last time. He picked up his dad and took him to the annual trout opener at Wa Wa Sum Lodge in Grayling. It was probably not an easy journey for Whitey, but you could see the sheer delight in his face when his buddies greeted him in camp.

Perhaps an old friend Bob Moses said it best: "We lost a legend. I once told Whitey that when I think of what makes a man a man it is his image that I see."

Whitey was preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth Ann "Betty" Sawyer on Dec 20, 2014; daughter, Elisabeth Anne "Lisa" Morrissey on Mar 2, 2007; and sister, Joanne S. Zinn on Jun 26, 2019. He is survived by his son, David (Amanda) Sawyer of Miami, FL; daughter, Mary Beth (Bruce) Visniski of Hamilton, MI; and many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

In keeping with his stated wishes, there will be no formal memorial, save a family memorial and of course his brass will be nailed to the pole at Wa Wa Sum by the Ancient and Royal Order of the Trout.

Memorial contributions in Whitey's honor, may be made to Michigan State University (via give.msu.edu) to Camp Wa Wa Sum.

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