Kayla Charray Murray, 30

Aug. 31, 1996 - Sept. 23, 2026

And just like that, the shooting star that illuminated our skies has passed into the heavens.

From the very beginning, Kayla had a personality all her own. She was one of the happiest babies, sporting the biggest smile and somehow managing to make everyone around her smile too. That sweet little girl eventually developed into a sassy, strong-willed woman with opinions—and she was generally not shy about sharing them.

Kayla could be defined with one word: passionate. If someone she loved was being treated unfairly, she was going to know about it, and you could guarantee she was going to have something to say about it. She had a heart for people, a soft spot for those who needed help, and she gave all of herself to those in her care.

The first time we witnessed Kayla in her full “Little Miss Bossy” capacity was in 2002. She went to Ukraine on a mission to find her sibling, and it was on that trip that the Kayla-Sasha duo was forged. Always his protector, frequently his tattle tale, and steadfast in her ability to “mother” her new little brother, the bond between them is universal and never ending.

In 2021, Kayla took on the role of her lifetime, hand in hand with her partner, Dusty. Kayla fulfilled her destiny to be a mom. She poured every ounce of herself into Bentley and became the ultimate momma bear. She put more love into Bentley in five short years than some people will ever know. Bentley was Kayla’s everything.

Kayla was fiercely loyal. She cared deeply. She showed up, and she always stood her ground.

We will miss her laugh.

We will miss her sass.

We will miss her stubbornness.

We will miss her giant heart.

Kayla’s story ended far too soon, but her place in our stories never will. She will live on in Bentley, and in her family: Parents, Dan and Mary Murray, siblings: DJ, Sasha, and Brie, her boyfriend, Dusty, and in all her extended family and friends. We will hold tight to the little pieces of her that she left behind.

We welcome you to join us in celebrating Kayla at 3 p.m. on Thursday Oct. 1 at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home, located at 525 S. Main Street, Kalispell. Reception to follow at Kayla’s home.

Come laugh. Come cry. And please bring your favorite Kayla story!