Ian Cavey

Everyone in Ian Cavey’s life was captivated by his dynamic personality. He was known for his energy and strong will, two characteristics that got him into trouble on more than one occasion. But despite his challenges, or perhaps because of them, Ian had an abundance of enthusiasm and love for life and music that he shared openly with the world.

On December 2, 1991, Michael and Collette (Snyder) Cavey welcomed the birth of their son, Ian Lewis, in Battle Creek, Michigan. Along with his older brother Drew, Ian grew up in the small town of Climax, Michigan. His childhood home was on North Church Street, where he grew up playing with his friends and older brother. He loved playing with Legos, Transformers, toy guns-⎯and especially enjoyed racing his brother down the stairs in a laundry basket. Ian shared a room with his brother Drew and, like the “Odd Couple,” Drew’s side was always clean and organized, while Ian’s was messy. Like most young boys, Ian also got into his fair share of mischief. One time, at the neighborhood lemonade stand, Ian pulled out a $20 bill and told everyone the drinks were “on him.” It was later discovered that the $20 bill had been borrowed from his mother’s wallet.

It was obvious from a young age that Ian was a bright boy. His mother jokes that Ian was speaking in complete sentences by the age of 6 months and never stopped talking after that. He could read and write long before he was in school, and this grew into a passion for reading philosophy and other works of literature. In many ways, Ian was not your typical teenager. He had an uncommonly mature and intellectual nature. He loved engaging in deep conversations on a variety of different topics, including philosophy, film, poetry, literature and the arts. In high school, Ian applied himself toward his passion for the arts. He involved himself in drama, participating in forensics and plays, and was always inspired by movies and film.

Of all the arts, music was undeniably Ian’s greatest passion. Ian’s first foray into the world of music began in the 4th grade when he took up playing the flute, against everyone’s advice. It was three years later that he found the instrument that truly inspired him: the drums. Ian played in all kinds of bands in high school. On Friday nights you could find him playing his drum kit with the pep band on the football field; on other days he would be performing at the community center with friends. It didn’t matter where or when, he loved making music. He had an indiscriminate love of music: he could find something to appreciate in every genre. Ian’s love of music was one of the things that he shared with others and helped him connect with countless people. He said that one of the best times of his life was the weekend he spent at the Austin City Limits Music Festival with his mom; he often talked about wanting to return to Austin to make his music dreams come true. His family was proud of him when he graduated from Climax-Scotts High School in the class of 2010. With his job at Hot Topic in Grand Rapids, Ian found a way to engage in his passion for music while working toward achieving his goals.

Like everyone, Ian had his faults. With the love of his friends and family, he overcame them.

No matter where he was in life, Ian’s friends were always there with him. Dillon, Trenton, Kirby and Will were the friends who were with him at his lowest lows and his highest highs. They always appreciated Ian for who he was and shared his passions with him.

Ian had a magnetic personality. People were drawn to him wherever he went. Friendly and easy to talk to, Ian’s love of life was infectious. He believed in living in the moment, and he was always deeply engaged in whatever conversation he was having. This allowed him to connect to many different people. Through the internet, Ian sustained relationships with everyone he met, even people he had only met once.

Of everyone in Ian’s life, his mother and father had the biggest impact on him. They supported him, encouraged him, and helped shape him into the man he became. His brother Drew was proud of the man he became, and the strength he showed to become that man. Ian looked up to his grandparents, and was proud of his French and Polish heritage. He had the loving support of all his aunts, uncles and cousins. Just as much as his family affected Ian, Ian affected his family. His memory will define them for the rest of their lives.

Ian left us a quote on his facebook page, one we think he would like us to keep in mind:

“Remember not our faulty pieces, remember not our rusted parts, it’s not the petty imperfections that define us – but the way we hold our hearts.”

Ian Lewis Cavey, age 19, died unexpectedly after an asthma attack on Wednesday, December 8, 2010, in LeRoy Township. Learn more about Ian, view his Life Story film, and share in some refreshments with his family and friends on Sunday, December 12, from 12 noon – 4:00 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo (375-2900), where services will be held on Monday, December 13, at 2:00 p.m. A reception will follow in the Life Story Center.

Surviving is his mom, Collette Cavey; dad, Michael Cavey (Dawn Bond); brother, Andrew Cavey; maternal grandparents, Charles and Annette Snyder; step-brother, William Bond; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. Please visit Ian’s personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can share a memory or photo with his family and/or sign his online guest book before coming to the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be directed to Hot Topic Foundation for music and arts or the American Asthma Foundation.