James Alvin Brayton

Early on January 4th, 2017, the chariot swung low for Jim and carried him away home.

Jim was born in Great Falls on June 4, 1925, to John M. and Ilo Brayton of Malta, Mont. The youngest of three boys, he grew up in Malta, and enlisted in the Navy at age 17, concerned like many others of his age that the war would be over before he could get into it. Jim served as a signalman on the USS Fletcher from mid-1943 until the end of the war in the Pacific, then came home, married Elaine St. John of Malta, and started a family. However, when the Korean War began, he immediately re-enlisted to do his part, and served as a signalman on the USS Frank E. Evans. Jim is still well-remembered by shipmates. Soon afterwards, he found his personal relationship with the Lord.

Jim was a surveyor and then project engineer in the highway construction business for most of his working life, alternating between projects in northeastern Montana and in the Sierras of California, at first, then going to work for the Bureau of Public Roads in the Territory of Alaska. He and his family were at the big parade in Juneau, when Alaska became the 49th state. One of his more memorable projects, however, was a two year temporary assignment to build a 160 km road across a wild part of Ethiopia, during the reign of Emperor Haile Selassie. His family also adopted their second son, John, while there. After returning to Alaska, Jim transferred over to the brand new Alaska Dept. of Highways and settled his family in Valdez, done with moving until the older children could finish high school. He even bought a house for the first time, and then six months later, the ‘64 earthquake hit. Eventually, the family resettled in the new Valdez town site. Jim worked on projects all over Southcentral District. According to some of his cohorts, he was particularly well known for running out of gas in his Highway Dept truck, and for making strong (“Navy”) coffee. As the District offices were consolidated, Jim later worked in Anchorage, earned his professional engineering license the hard way, and then added his experience to the Headquarters office in Juneau, from where he eventually retired. Afterward, Jim worked as a project engineer for the Kenai Peninsula Borough, then took an intensive Spanish language course in Mexico, and later served as an elder and pastor at Valley Chapel in Juneau. Throughout, he enjoyed the great outdoors and the company of many friends.

Jim and Elaine spent the nearly 70 years together as best of friends. They moved to their daughter’s house near Fairbanks in 2016, to be close to family.

Jim is survived by his soulmate Elaine, his son “Pat” Brayton of Anchorage, and his daughter Barbara Tyndall, near Fairbanks. His son John passed away from a heart condition in 2015. Jim was also proud of his 7 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.

Funeral/memorial Services were held January 21, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. at Harvest Church, 1417-28th Avenue, Fairbanks, Alaska.

Remembrances may be sent to Harvest Church in Fairbanks (99701). In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to one of Jim’s favorite charities, the Wounded Warrior Project, at http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org .

Godspeed Jim, and God bless you. You’re home now.