Onis B. Nave "White Hat Mike"

Onis B. Nave passed away on August 1, 2024, at the age of 83. Born on July 16, 1941, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to DeWitt Nave and Arlene Cook Tyler. Onis was a beloved husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend.

Who was this man named ONIS B. NAVE? Did we really know him?

At a young age, Onis was baptized at Progressive Baptist Church, after moving to to Kansas City with his mom.  Onis attended Attucks Grade School and went on to graduate from Lincoln High School. After graduation he took a job at Mosher’s Grocery Store and then as an insurance salesman for the Western & Southern Life Insurance Co., which were both temporary.

Following his dreams of music he would take a job at KWKI 93.3 Radio Station. He would take the name Mike Ross AKA Young Michael J and became the news and sports director in addition to a popular DJ at the station. As time passed KWKI moved on and so did Onis. He would then move to Carter Broadcast Group KPRS 103.3 with his own DJ show, “Blues & All that Jazz”. He was also promoted to sales manager and became known as Mike “White Hat” Ross.  Onis would meet lots of important people in the business. He became a superstar personality and excelled in radio and as sales manager. Onis earned numerous awards and much praise for his work in the community. He served as master of ceremonies for many recording artists shows. Let’s not forget the actors, actresses, athletes, celebrities and community leaders he met.

Onis was very hard to put into any one particular category. You never knew what you were going to get but, his best personality trait was his generosity. In spite of dancing to a different drum beat those close to him knew him to be funny, kind, good, dedicated, sensitive, caring and also a very good friend. Don’t forget dad, grandpa, great grandpa, pops, uncle, and husband. He will be greatly missed.

So, who was the man named ONIS B. NAVE?

There is so much more to him to be told, but most of all he was a man loved by so many people who shared his love and his life.

Onis was preceded in death by his parents, Dewitt Nave and Arlene Cook Tyler, his sons, Gregory Nave and Richard Boyd, III; his siblings Dewitt Nave, Jr. and Sandra Nave Nelson, and  grandson Clayton King.

Onis leaves behind a legacy of love and memories. He is survived by his wife Judith Nave of  Kansas City, Missouri; his sons Darren Hersey of Kansas City, Missouri, Chancellor Cochran (Rosalind) of Kansas City, Missouri, and Robert Boyd (Cecelia) Los Angeles, California; daughters Shelley V. Nave of Atlanta, GA, Erica Wiley of Atlanta, GA and Judith Boyd Guice (Herbert) of Sacramento, CA; his brothers Jerry Nave, James Nave, and Mack Lee Tyler, lots of grandkids, great-grand kids and many family members and friends.