Aaron Michael Claveau

February 17, 1998 - November 23, 2007

Aaron Claveau had an inquisitive nature and an adventurous spirit that led him to experience things in his young life that most people never will. He was energetic and enjoyed the challenges and excitement found in the outdoors. Aaron truly had an abundance of enthusiasm and love for life that he shared openly with the world. His greatest happiness, however, was to make the people he loved happy, his parents, his brothers, and the many others he held close in his young heart.Aaron Michael Claveau was born on February 17, 1998, at the Memorial Medical Center in Ludington, Michigan, to proud parents, Jeffrey and Donelle (Griggs) Claveau. Even more excited than his parents, Aaron’s three year old brother, Ryan, waited anxiously in the waiting room to welcome his new sibling into the world, and proudly told everyone his brother’s name was “Jose.” It was from this earliest moment that Ryan and Aaron formed a special bond that would only get stronger with time. The brothers were recently joined by another brother, River, who adored Aaron.It was only a matter of time before Aaron was up and running after his brother Ryan and trying to do everything he did. But there was one thing that Aaron could not part with for a long time, and that was a teddy bear given to him as a baby. This bear went everywhere with him, and even became a world traveler. On occasion, when it was accidentally left behind, his parents had to make some calls and get it shipped back home quickly.Aaron was always an active child with a boatload of energy. From sun up to sun down, he played in high gear and without fear. Aaron enjoyed playing in all kinds of sports, and proved to be a great athlete. He played goalie in soccer, so he wouldn’t have to run, was the catcher in baseball, and his team went on to win the League Championship in Saginaw this year. Besides playing sports, Aaron managed the 7th and 8th grade basketball team at Mason County Eastern Middle School. He also learned the technique of Tae Kwon Do and proudly won first place in a tournament in which he had to defeat a boy twice his size.Outside of sports, there were many things that kept Aaron busy. He loved to hunt and fish with his Dad, ride his bike and four-wheeler, build forts with his best friend Cameron, catch frogs and play Guitar Hero with his cousin Joe. In fact, Aaron finally mastered level 1 on the game and proudly told everyone. Whatever interest Aaron was pursuing, he was rarely alone. He was always around his brother Ryan, cousin Joe, and best friend Cameron; they were inseparable and did everything together. When Aaron lived in Saginaw, he had a group of neighborhood friends he hung around with all the time, riding their bikes and playing back at his house. On the rare occasion that Aaron was by himself, he was never truly alone because at least one of their three dogs was by his side, usually his favorite, Lacy.Separated by a span of only three years, with birthdays only one week apart, Aaron and his brother, Ryan, were very close and best of friends. Aaron naturally looked up to his older brother and wanted to do everything like him – but with his own style, of course. Aside from their every day adventures together, they also loved to Sumo wrestle and made up wrestling tournaments between each other. Aaron and Ryan truly shared a close brotherhood, a bond that nothing would be able to break.Like many young boys, Aaron had a curious mind and liked to take things apart and try to put them back together. He especially loved anything that had to deal with cars and trucks, and had a huge collection of Hot Wheels of every kind. As he got older, he put the toy cars away and began helping to work on the real things. He had a tool box full of great tools that most men envied. Aaron put them all to good use working on trucks, his bike or four wheeler. When he wasn’t doing the work himself, he was always there to lend a helping hand to his uncles Ron and Todd out in the pole barn. Growing boys are always hungry, and some of Aaron’s favorite foods included pizza rolls with ranch dressing for an after school snack, macaroni and cheese, and a bowl of Apple Jacks, or what he liked to call “happy jacks” every morning.Although Aaron was “all boy” in play, there was always a special tenderness inside of him. He had a very big heart when it came to his family, especially his mother, whom he never wanted to be too far away from. For such a young soul, Aaron had great compassion for those around him. Last summer, he volunteered with the Special Olympics, and he offered to take dance lessons in order to help a friend. But this was the way Aaron was in all of his relationships; he was always so full of life that he couldn’t help but pass on his excitement and energy to the people around him.Although Aaron’s life was all too brief, he was a young boy who lived his life to the fullest. He approached everything with optimism, energy and a contagious smile that anyone near him couldn’t help but catch. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.Aaron Michael Claveau died suddenly on Friday, November 23, 2007, from accidental injuries. He was preceded in death by his Uncle Roger Baynton, and several great-grandparents. He will be greatly missed by his parents: Donelle & Patrick Maloney, and Jeffrey and Toni Claveau, all of Custer; his brothers Ryan and River; his maternal grandparents: Don & Karen Griggs of Custer, Joe and Jean Maloney of Manistee; his paternal grandparents: Mark & Marlene Claveau of Scottville, Tony and Lynda Fortich of Pentwater; his great grandparents: Claude Griggs of Ripley, West Virginia, Mary Worthington and Jean Argue, both of Scottville, Duane & Rosie Claveau of Hot Springs, Arkansas, Earl Worthington of Kalamazoo; his favorite aunt and uncle, Robyn & Todd McCumber; his favorite cousins Joe McCumber and Jenni "Sis" Aultman, his best friend Cameron Gravatt; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.