Michael Samuel Cave Obituary

Michael Samuel (Mikey) Cave was born in Houston, Texas on May 19, 1988 and left his mother's arms on October 5, 2019 in Houston, Texas.  He was the son of Pastor Michael J. Cave and Rev.Sharon Tilotta Aaron.  He is survived by his siblings Lisa Cave Drake, Jonathan Cave, Julie Cave, Kristy Cave, Sharon Cave Cooke, Joy Cave McWilliams, Noel Cave Larsen, Emily Cave and Campbell Cave and uncles Howard L. Cave, wife Christy and Louis N. Tilotta, wife Ann.  He was preceded in death by his grandparents, James H. Cave, Clara Belle Cave, Rev. Joseph J. Tilotta, Evelyn Harvey Tilotta and uncles Joseph and Charles Tilotta.

Michael Samuel was born with alobar holoprosencephaly which meant he had 1/3 of his brain. He was supposed to be blind, deaf, never progress and die within weeks.  At one day of age, his grandfather, Papa Tilotta, held him up to the sky and dedicated his life to the Lord Jesus Christ. As a result, Michael Samuel was not blind, nor deaf, continued to progress and live to be 31 years 4 months 16 days making him one of the oldest to ever live with his diagnosis.

Though Michael Samuel was non-verbal, he did manage to say a few words. He caused a speech therapist to literally almost pass out one day when she showed him a picture of a bird and he said, "bird".  Once when he made noises to wake up his mom and she would not get up. He then emphatically proclaimed, 'Momma'!  When he would eat and didn't want more, he would go into a gag.  His sister, Kristy taught him instead to say,  "uh-uh".  Michael had a sense of humor and often when you would tell him that you loved him, he would say "uh-uh" and laugh and play a game of back and forth. Many times he would laugh at appropriate times giving us the clue that he understood.

Michael loved music and it was a part of his life almost daily.  Sometimes he would "sing" along. He had an expression that he would make when he especially liked a song. He showed us that expression the first time that he heard a banjo.

Here's the part of the obit that tells his accomplishments. Michael Samuel was known as a child of love. Everybody that knew him, loved him. He illustrated true unconditional love. He communicated through his eyes and somehow made all who held him believe that he loved them more than anyone else.  Though he suffered with illness and struggles, he had a happy life. He was held in someone's arms 16-24 hrs a day all the days of his life. He had hundreds of prayer warriors that stood in the gap when his life was threatened and he experienced the miracle of life over and over again.

When Michael Samuel was introduced to a new niece or nephew, he would make a sober, serious like face like he wasn't too sure about these babies.  We would assure him no one would take his place.  He grew quite fond of them once they could climb on and crawl all over him. When they would come to visit his smile showed that he enjoyed watching them play.  He is survived by nephews and nieces, Austin Drake, Joel Drake, Emma Rose Drake, Cash Phillips, Denver Phillips, Connor Cooke, Tyler Cooke, Jax McWilliams, Violet McWilliams, Arrow McWilliams, Aada Larsen and Damian Larsen.

Michael Samuel Cave is with Jesus, healed and rejoicing. Blessed Be the Name of the Lord.

Visitation will be held from 1-2 pm with the funeral service to begin at 2 pm on Sunday, October 13, 2019 at the Klein Funeral Home in Tomball.  Burial will follow at the Klein Memorial Park in Pinehurst.