RIP Gary Lee Bomar, Owner of Gary Lee's Motor Club and Grub

It’s been an emotional few days for the Denver music community. On Sunday afternoon, Gary Lee Bomar — owner of Gary Lee’s Motor Club and Grub — passed away at a Denver hospital after sustaining a severe head injury earlier this week.

Bomar was in Mexico on a vacation, traveling in a small town between Cabo San Lucas and La Paz. On Wednesday, he was on the phone with his mother, when he said to her, "Hang on, there's an accident, I need to call you back." After not hearing from him, his mother called back an hour and a half later and was told that Bomar was in an ambulance.

Bomar underwent surgery in Mexico, and after his family was able to pay the medical bills — thanks in a large part to a gofundme page that raised over $30,000 in a matter of hours — he was medevaced to Denver on Thursday. His condition continued to worsen, though, with Bomar on life support as of Friday evening. He passed away on Sunday afternoon, in the hospital, surrounded by family.

The official gofundme page for Bomar, which has raised over $60,000 to pay for medical bills (and now, funeral arrangements) was updated on October 4 with the following post from Bomar's sister, Tiffany:

Gary Lee Bomar passed away this afternoon surrounded by his family and close friends. This is a finality that we never could have imagined. We have done our best to keep you all updated through this tragedy. We are now asking for PRIVACY to mourn the loss of our son, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin, and friend. We will post arrangements when we have them made. Thank you for your kindness.

While Bomar was fighting his battle, the Denver music community was rallying around him. Gary Lee’s Motor Club and Grub is a well-known South Broadway bar and venue, a staple during the annual Underground Music Showcase. On Saturday night, the bar hosted local musicians to raise money for the beloved owner. Sunday, South Broadway neighbor 3 Kings Tavern also hosted a fundraiser and show to support the fellow bar owner.

3 Kings Tavern posted the following for the fundraising event on Facebook:

“We're doing what this community does best. We're circling the wagons and getting together for a last minute gathering of support and positive energy. Maybe if we're all gathered together in one place, we'll be able to effect the space time continuum and up Gary's odds a bit.”

News of Bomar’s passing has been spreading fast, with social-media messages of love and condolences filling the bar’s Facebook page as well as Bomar’s personal page.

Gary Lee’s Motor Club and Grub posted the following: “RIP Gary Lee. Everyone on this staff loved you with all of our hearts. The family is asking for privacy. The bar family is mourning so please be kind and patient with us.”

The family is still making arrangements for services, and this post will be updated as more information becomes available.