Charles 'Kelly Bumgarner

– Charles Caldin "Kelly" Bumgarner, 73, of Missoula, passed away Thursday, Sept. 18, 2014, of natural causes.

He was born Aug. 8, 1941, in Rochester, Minnesota, to Ruth and Leslie Bumgarner. He moved with his family to the Bitterroot Valley about 1946. He attended elementary school in Hamilton. He moved to Missoula in 1956. He attended Missoula County High School.

In 1960, he married Peggy Tipton (now deceased). In 1972, married Linda Sharbano. Kelly and his wife Jan Eychner married Nov. 10, 2010, after sharing 18 years together. They split their time between Missoula and Yuma, Arizona.

Kelly started racing in May 1963. He was a member of the Missoula Racers Association and the Kalispell Racers Association. He raced throughout the states of Montana, Idaho and Washington. In 1970, he was high-points driver of the year in his K11 car. He was the Montana state champion in 1971, 1972 and 1973.

He owned and operated Kelly's Auto and Welding in Lolo for 19 years prior to his retirement. Kelly was always an avid hunter, fisherman and spent many of his years camping.

He leaves behind his wife, Janice; three daughters, Julie Reed, Donna Carver and Kimberly Fuller; six grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; two sisters; five nieces and nephews; and a multitude of friends and acquaintances. He was a man who worked hard, played hard, loved many and lived large.

A memorial will be held in his memory at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, at 2275 Ruth Louise Lane, Missoula.
Read Charles Bumgarner's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.