Brandon Twp.-A township clerk for 22 years, founder of the Brandon Senior Center and a fighter for local funding’Edna Burton dedicated her life to serving her community and family.
Burton died Jan. 1 at Genesys Regional Health Park after a three year battle with cancer.
She was 78.
‘Edna never left anything undone,? said Jeannie McCreery, Brandon Township clerk. ‘I was not a bit surprised that she died on New Year’s Day. She finished off the year.?
Edna Mae McArthur was born April 5, 1926 in Davison, the second of nine children born to Earl and Mae McArthur. She wed Edward Burton in May 1944, in a marriage that would last 50 years until his death in 1995.
Edna Burton became a mother with the birth of daughter Kathleen.
In a message delivered at her mother’s funeral, Kathy Adair wrote, ‘God blessed me with the very best mother anyone could have. She loved me unconditionally. I’ve felt her love and strength my entire life. She made so many sacrifices for me’and most of them I didn’t even realize until I became a wife and mother myself.?
In 1945 Burton moved with baby Kathy to Ortonville to live with her in-laws while her husband served overseas. When he returned, they built a home in Brandon Township where they lived until 1956 when they moved into Ortonville.
Burton became the township’s first full-time employee in 1966, issuing building permits, collecting taxes and helping with voter registration.
In 1970 she began her long career as township clerk.
Bill Wright, a former township supervisor and trustee who worked with Burton for 20 years, said Burton held the township together in the beginning. He recalled when she started that federal revenue sharing was coming down the line’money given directly to qualifying municipalities from the federal government, but which required documenting expenditures and applying.
‘The paperwork was astronomical,? Wright said. He estimated that over the years, Burton was able to obtain ‘several hundred thousand dollars? for the township through federal revenue sharing, community block grants, and other funding sources.
Wright remembered Edna as being very sentimental, a person who wore her heart on her sleeve and showed concern for people in trouble.
‘We had ups and downs, which is natural with different personalities on the board,? he said. ‘But we worked together to get things done. She was adamant about following the rules, especially at election time. No one interfered with her there. I enjoyed the years Edna and I worked together. She was a good friend.?
Karen McArthur, Burton’s deputy clerk for more than 16 years, recalled that Burton worked tirelessly to get all the money she could for the township.
‘We never lost any money,? McArthur said. ‘If the money was available, she’d get it.?
McArthur noted that updates to the town hall, the paving of East Glass Road and installation of sidewalks were some of the ways that the hard-earned money was used.
In 1975, Burton established, through federal funds, two full-time salaried positions for Brandon Fire Department Chief Bob McArthur and Assistant Chief David Borst. Two years later she obtained the first rescue vehicle for the Brandon Fire Department, again using federal funds. Prior to that, McArthur recalled, the fire department didn’t respond to medical emergencies.
McArthur said that getting those federal funds was a difficult task.
‘We owe an awful lot of what we have today to Edna,? he said. ‘She was one of the best elected officials that this area will ever see. I doubt we’ll see an elected official of that quality again.?
In 1977, Burton also used a community block grant to establish the Brandon Senior Center, originally located on South Street next to the Ortonville Masonic Temple currently the Brandon substation.
Karen McArthur recalled that Burton not only obtained the property for the senior center, but did a lot of research about set-up and activities for the center and once it was established, visited everyday.
‘Her priority was the seniors, and also anyone that was in need,? Karen said. ‘If you needed help, you’d come to Edna.?
Both Karen and Wilma Merritt, Brandon Senior Center coordinator noted that the senior center was ‘Edna’s baby.?
‘Anything we needed Edna went to bat for,? Merritt said. ‘She never let anyone mess with her seniors.?
Merritt, who has known Burton since 1959 said she was very giving, someone who would do without herself so that others could have more. When Merritt’s son died, Burton got her back to work.
‘I was ready to give up,? Merritt said. ‘She came and got me back on my feet. She was a great lady.?
Burton was known for helping people. McArthur recalled times that people would go into Burton’s office, close the door and cry. But she said Burton would always find a way to help them.
‘She would do anything for anybody,? McArthur said. ‘She put everyone before herself. She was known for helping people.?
When Burton took over the election work, Brandon Township had two precincts. During her tenure, the number of precincts increased to six. She established a voting precinct at the mobile home park, as well as a polling place at Brandon Firestation #2.
‘When she was a clerk she was always here,? McArthur said. ‘She’d fight for what was right and fight anybody that was in the wrong. I don’t think there’s anybody in Brandon Township who has done as much for the township. She was just a wonderful person.?
In 1992, Burton retired as clerk, but worked as a township trustee for another four years.
Jeannie McCreery said discussions are already underway about a memorial for Burton. McCreery believes a memorial garden at the current Brandon Senior Center would be appropriate. She envisions a garden with a path, comfortable bench, small pond, waterfall and plaque in Edna’s honor. McCreery said her husband suggested the waterfall because ‘Edna was perpetual motion, always running.?
McCreery recalled a visit to see Burton in the hospital just a few days before her death. ‘I told her, ‘As long as I’m in office, I will never be as good as Edna Burton.? She just laughed when I told her that. She’s a hard act to follow.?
Burton was also a member of the Ortonville Women’s Club and a member of the Ortonville Order of the Eastern Star.
In addition to her daughter Kathy and son-in-law Robin, Burton is survived by six grandsons, Bob (Hope) Adair, Scott (Desiree) Heck, Dave (Jill) Adair, Troy Heck, John (Christine) Adair and Jason Adair; two sisters, Helen Burton and Carrie Sutherland; three brothers, Earl Jr., Russ and Bob McArthur; and seven great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were at 11 a.m., Jan. 4. at Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church, 6805 Bluegrass, Clarkston. Interment was in the Ortonville Cemetery. Memorial donations may be given to the Karmanos Cancer Foundation, 18831 W. 12 Mile Road, Lathrup Village, 48076.