Nathanael Whitt

Our remarkable and brilliant Nathanael Clark Whitt, 54, of Dunnellon, Florida, died on Monday, August 25, 2025, surrounded by those who loved him most.

Nate was born on July 4, 1971 in Long Beach, California to Judith Ann and Clark. He grew up spending most of his time in West Union, Ohio and summers in Key West with his dad, and both places had an incredible impact on who Nate was. He was a West Union High School graduate, class of 1989.

From an early age, Nate was an extremely talented musician, writing his own brand of music. He toured for years with many incredible musicians, and his music speaks for itself. He attended The Ohio State University and graduated in 1994 with a BS in Environmental Science, but always remained a Buckeye.

During his time at Ohio State Nate learned a lot about himself and stumbled on one of his greatest loves, Carter Caves, Kentucky. After college, he continued as a touring musician before he started his adventure as a business owner with Brush Creek Excursions, renting canoes on Ohio Brush Creek. Nate loved being on the water, and had a way of finding an outdoor adventure anywhere he went. In 2000 he stumbled on Rainbow Springs. He was immediately determined to set up shop in Dunnellon, and that's what he did. Nate opened Rainbow River Canoe and Kayak in 2001 and has been fiercely protecting and growing it every day since. He loved politics and was very proud of his time as mayor of Dunnellon from 2012 to 2016.

Nate was one of a kind. He was always busy, always working. He was clever, innovative, and loyal. He would do anything to help anyone.

While Nate loved his properties and projects, his first real loves were his girls, Alilia and Sophia. He was super dad from day one, often having the girls in a car seat in the front of the bus while he ran a shuttle. Nate didn't have free time because he was always working on something. He loved traveling to visit his other homes, checking in with some of his lifelong best friends, and experiencing beautiful places all over the country.

In 2019 Nate's life shifted directions, and he met his fiance, Meriah. Everything they tackled from that point on was together. They were truly soul mates.

Nathan is survived by his daughters, Alilia and Sophia; his life partner, Meriah; mom, Judith Ann; sister, Lauren (Stu); brother, Carl (Anneliis); uncles, Bill (Mary Lou) Whitt and John (Anita) Lawler; step-mom, Barbara; best friends, Ken, Jason, and Chris; and many other family and friends who were impacted by who Nate was. He was preceded in death by his dad, Clark; step-dad, Bill Brown; and his grandparents.

We will honor Nate with a memorial celebration at Rainbow River Canoe and Kayak in Dunnellon, Florida on Saturday, September 27 at 6:00pm, and one at his Brush Creek home in Manchester, Ohio on Saturday, October 11 at 6:00pm. To carry on Nate's memory, consider a donation to something very close to his heart, the Edge of Appalachia Nature Preserve.