Clayton "Clay" Gallagher

Clayton "Clay" Gallagher, 85, of Missoula, passed away peacefully in his Montana home Friday, Aug. 16, 2013, following a long battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Clay was born Sept. 29, 1927, to James A. and Londa Micheals Gallagher on a ranch near Cohagen. The family moved to Missoula in 1942, when Clay was only 14 years old. He went right to work and learned a variety of skills and trades. He was able to do "just about anything," including farm work and general labor. He worked in machine shops and learned how to repair farm machinery.

Clay went to welding school and over the next 48 years he used this skill both in his own shop welding and fabricating wood stoves, fireplace inserts, snowplows and utility trailers, as well as for paid work. He continued welding and personal shop work well after retirement, building and selling his last utility trailer in the summer of 2011.

When Clay turned 18 years old, he registered for the draft and was in the Army one month later. He was stationed in Germany for 2 1/2 years, and it was during this time that he met and married his first wife, Anna Katzl. Clay received his honorable discharge in 1948, and he and Anna moved back to Missoula.

Clay went to work for the Northern Pacific Railroad in 1949 in the car shops. His work continued with his main career as a carman for the Northern Pacific Railroad, which was later renamed Burlington Northern. Sometime in the mid- to late 1980s, Montana Rail Link bought out Burlington Northern. Along with other work, Clay continued his railroad career and retired in July 1989 after 40 years of service.

One year earlier, in September 1988, Clay married Judith "Judy" Paxton in the backyard of his brother Marvin's home in Missoula.

Clay enjoyed his retirement and kept very busy in his shop for the next several years. He built and fixed many things for his friends and neighbors. In 2003 he and Judy bought a second home in Yuma, Ariz. They spent winters in Arizona and summers in Montana.

Survivors include his wife, Judith Gallagher of Missoula; four daughters and their families, Renate (Richard) Hagerman of Missoula, Bonnie Gallagher of Pomona, Calif., Carol (John) Beckemyer of Huntington Beach, Calif., and Lela (Robert) Tillotson of Missoula; two sisters, Edith Pluhar of Cohagen and Velma (Durham) of Petaluma, Calif.; one brother, Marvin Gallagher of Missoula; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Services are planned for sometime in September when family can be present, location to be determined. Inquiries may be directed to Lela Tillotson of Missoula at (406) 239-9574.

Daddy, we love you and miss you, and take comfort that you are in Our Lord's hands – Love, Lela, Renate, Bonnie and Carol

Read Clayton Gallagher's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.