Neebish Island was the birthplace and childhood home of Pat Norton (1931-2001), a local painter whose work depicts the St. Marys River, lake freighters, churches, and other island scenes. Born as Pat Cook, one of twelve children of the United States lighthouse keeper and his wife, she grew up with familiar views of lake freighters and related traffic. After she married Roger Norton, they lived on Neebish Island, and also in Sault Ste. Marie and Barbeau, Michigan; and Wisconsin. She specialized in watercolor paintings.