Clayton “Butch” Bradley, 67, “went to heaven” quietly in the early morning hours of Sunday, June 29, 2014, surrounded by his family at his residence in Kalispell. For the past three years he had fought a valiant battle with colon cancer. 

He was born Dec. 10, 1946, in Kalispell to Clifford and Ethel Bradley.

Butch spent most of his life in Kalispell attending both St. Matthew's School and Flathead High School, graduating in 1966. 

He was a salesman. He began his sales career as a small boy selling Grit newspapers on the downtown streets. As he grew, his love of the profession shifted to his interest in cars. Even in high school, he bought and sold dozens of autos. Although he tried selling food, vinyl siding and various other products, cars were his main interest. In a career spanning more than 40 years, Butch sold cars for many of the new car dealerships in Kalispell, but his real love was used cars. 

In 1980, he opened Butch Bradley's Used Cars on the Evergreen strip where he specialized in classic cars, Corvettes and hot rods. Later, he opened Glacier Auto and operated that lot until he moved to Las Vegas seven years ago. Butch was supervisor of the arbitration department for Manheim Auto Auction for five years until ill health forced him to retire.

Butch loved fast cars, but in his later years he also developed an appreciation for some pretty unusual vehicles as well. His children remember him taking them to school in his Corvair convertible. They begged to be let off down the block so that their friends wouldn't see Dad's funny “ride.” Later, he would embarrass them even more by driving around town in his Geo convertible “clown car” or his white Honda scooter wearing his round 1960s-era helmet. Thank goodness, he eventually bought himself a real motorcycle! Butch loved playing pool and shot with his team of friends at the Eagle's Club for a good part of his adult life.  

Being a dad and grandpa was Butch's biggest passion. He never missed a ballgame or school event, and was most proud that his kids turned out to be such good human beings. Isaac and Wylie were the apple of his eye and, thankfully, he was still here on earth to welcome baby Willa Grace a little over three months ago.

Butch was preceded in death by his father, Clifford Bradley; and a young daughter, Stefanie Susanne Bradley.

He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Susie “Selma” Bradley, of Kalispell; and children, Sydney and Jerry Schroeder, and Joshua and Shilo Bradley; three grandchildren; Isaac and Wylie Schroeder, and Willa Grace Bradley; his mother, Ethel Ellingson; sister, Peggy Hanson; and sister-in-law, Vinicia Johnson, also a niece and two nephews.

A rosary was said July 3 at St. Matthew's Catholic Church. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 5, at St. Matthew's Catholic Church, with a reception to follow immediately after the service in the school cafeteria. A private family burial will take place at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for Butch's family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to view Butch's tribute wall, offer condolences and share memories.