Bert-O_-Brayton-87423

Obituary

Bert O. Brayton, 86, a Burlington businessman who built his agricultural chemical company into one of the largest in the nation, died Tuesday at Burlington Medical Center following a long illness.
A Missouri native, Brayton and his wife, Virginia, chartered the Brayon Chemical Corp. in Burlington in 1950. The company specialized in insect, pest, and disease control products for home gardens and lawns, orchards, truck gardens, field crops, and livestock.
The company, which grew to be one of the largest distributors of agricultural chemicals in the US was sold in 1977 when Brayton retired. It was later purchased by Wilbur Ellis.
Brayton also was a farmer who used his own fields as test plots. He conducted field days to show the increased crop production possible through correct insect, weed, and disease control. He emphasized educating his customers concerning the correct selection and safe use of farm chemicals and also emphasized careful dosage and application of the chemicals.
The company’s sales force expanded to meet demand, and sales extended into Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, and Minnesota.
“Bert was a pioneer in the whole development of ag chemical usage and marketing,” said Dave McMurray president of Hancock Land Co., and former president of Brayton Chemical.
McMurray said Brayton was one of the first to place emphasis on demonstrating how the products could be used so that growers would know what was best for their own crops.
“He was involved from probably near the beginning of the agrichemical age as we know it today,” McMurray said.
Brayton was a graduate of the University of Missouri College of Agriculture. Following graduation, he worked for the US Department of Agriculture and later was Assistant State of Missouri Entomologist for 14 years, working in the field of regulation and quarantine.
He farmed for several years in north central Missouri before moving to Burlington in 1947 to work for the Bonewitz Chemical Company.
He was awarded the Iowa State Horticultural Award in 1958 and was a past president of the Midwest Agricultural Chemical Association. He also served on the board of directors of the Iowa Chemical Association and the National Agricultural Chemical Association and was past president of the Iowa Fertilizer and Chemical Association. In 1979, he was given the Director’s Award from the Midwest Agricultural Chemical Association.
Brayton was involved in many conservation projects, including erosion control, tree planting, and establishing wildlife habitat areas. He was active in the community and was given the West Burlington Community Service Award in 1975.
Bert was born May 25, 1909, in Green Ridge, Mo., he was the son of Leslie R. and Carrie E. McElroy Brayon. He married Virginia Alexander on June 2, 1935, in Columbia, Mo.
Mr. Brayton was a graduate of Grand Pass High School in Grand Pass, Mo., and a 1934 graduate of the University of Missouri College of Agriculture.
He was a member of the West Burlington Christian Church. He was a consultant for the county Extension Service and was involved in many conservation projects.
Survivors include his wife; one daughter, Jena Hauskenect of Burlington; one son, L. Paul Brayton of Lexington, NC.; 11 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and one brother, John D. Brayton of Grissley Flats, Calif.
He was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers, and two sisters.
The funeral for Mr. Brayton will be at 10 am Friday in Lunning Chapel with the Rev. Jack Howard and Mrs. Steve Parker officiating. Burial will be at Aspen Grove Cemetery.