Charles Edwin 'Chuck' Ferree, 69

Charles Edwin "Chuck" Ferree, 69, passed on May 9, 2007, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center. He was born Aug. 29, 1937, in Malta to Walter and Helen (Trethewey) Ferree. He was raised in Zortman and Kalispell.

He married Cheryl Ann Hanson on July 2, 1967, in Seattle.

Chuck left school at 16 and moved to Star Meadows with his parents where he helped them run a small stud mill, later working as a skidder operator and faller for loggers in the area.

He loved riding motorcycles, rebuilding several old Harleys and later racing stock cars, always building his own cars including body work, paint, engine and welding. He raced at Big Sky Speedway, Raceway Park and occasionally at Pablo, for 28 years.

Chuck had a great sense of humor, often telling new race drivers, "I'll help you all I can, but when you beat me you're on your own." He was a great sportsman on and off the track.

The last few years fishing and camping became his latest pastime.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Helen Ferree; and his in-laws, Bernard and Phyllis Hanson.

He is survived by his wife, Cheryl Ann, to whom he was totally devoted; son and daughter-in-law, David and Tara, of Columbia Falls; three grandsons, Andrew "Spike" of Kalispell, and Scott and Will of Columbia Falls; one granddaughter, Kristina "Kridder," of Kalispell; two sisters, Sydne Smith of Hot Springs, Ark., and Peggy Street of Kalispell; two sisters-in-law, Carol Hanson of Redmond, Wash., and Dee Hanson of Kalispell; three brothers-in-law, Rick Smith of Hot Springs, Ark., and Mark and Vic Hanson of Kalispell; and several nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 22, at Raceway Park, on Highway 93 North in Kalispell.

This paid obituary is being run again at the request of the family.