Barton Duane Seager, 77, died Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009, at Crouse Hospital in Syracuse, following a brief illness.
He was born March 10, 1932, on the family farm in Italy Valley, New York, the son of the late Harry William and Reva Olney Seager.  He attended a one-room schoolhouse in Italy Valley and graduated as part of the Class of 1950 from Naples High School, Naples, New York.  While in High School, Barton played football, basketball and his favorite sport, baseball, in addition to serving as President of the Student Council and Class President. He then went on to receive his Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics from Cornell University in 1955.  While at Cornell, Bart was a member of the Cayuga Lodge fraternity and played football, until a leg injury ended his sports endeavors.  It was also during his college years at Cornell that he met his future wife.  On Aug. 20, 1955, Barton was united in marriage to Charlotte Duerr Reit at the Methodist Church in South Otselic.
Shortly following graduation from Cornell, Bart enlisted in the United States Army, where he served for several years and through promotions was made an officer as a 2nd Lieutenant, and was stationed at Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island. Following his military service, Barton joined Moore Business Forms, Inc. in 1958, beginning his 30 year career as a salesman out their Syracuse offices. He was a very successful salesman with Moore, and, through over ten years of outstanding sales records, was recognized by his company with their Lifetime Achievement Award, having moved through promotions to Elmira and then Poughkeepsie, as District Manager, where he retired in 1988.
For many years, Barton was an active member of the Poughkeepsie Kiwanis Club and the Dutchess County Rotary Club as well as volunteering as a recruiter for the Cornell Admissions Alumni Ambassador Network. Bart had several deep interests:  animals, particularly horses; agronomy & farming; and sports. Throughout his entire life, he loved to raise and care for animals, where he truly had a special gift. His favorite was Arabian horses, which he owned several and showed as a long time member of the Arabian Horse Association.   Bart loved the farm where he grew up and loved the study of plants and soils, whether cultivating his garden, putting in hay or raising Christmas trees on High Tor Farms, Inc., which he founded along with his son and their wives, and was a member of the New York Christmas Tree Growers Association to support this industry.
Above all else, Bart’s greatest joy was his family. He was a devoted son, brother, father and grandfather and took a sincere interest in all his extended family members, making time to spend with all as much as possible and share in their activities and accomplishments, no matter how great or small.
Bart’s beloved wife of 52 years, Charlotte, predeceased him in 2007; however, he is survived by his children, Gerard and Teresa Seager of Smyrna; Jeffrey and Jody Seager of Kannapolis, N.C.; Karlyn and John Myers of Plymouth; his grandchildren, Lauren Teresa, Sarah Beth Waters, Martha Katherine, Reva Leigh, Andrew Waters, Kyle Duerr, Justin Ryan, Corey Drew Seager, Jessica Charlotte and Michelle Katherine Bender.  In addition, he is survived by his sister, Nancy Palese and her husband, John, of Italy Valley; his brother Edward and his wife, Joan, of Italy Valley; his brother Gary and his wife, Donna, of Italy Valley and his sister in law, Jean Seager, of Rochester.  His brother, Varian, predeceased him in 1988.
CNY Funeral Services will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday at the United Church of Christ in Sherburne, followed by a reception in the church hall.  A second funeral service for friends and family in Western NY will be held at 5 p.m. on Saturday at the Trinity Federated Church in Naples, followed by a reception at the Maxfield’s Hose Company.  Graveside services with military honors and interment will be at 10 a.m. Sunday in the Seager Family Cemetery, Old Prattsburg Road, Italy Valley. 
In lieu of flowers, Barton’s family has requested donations in his honor and memory be made to either the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Burgess & Tedesco Funeral Home, 10 S. Main St., Sherburne.
For additional information or sign the Book of Memories, go to www.burgessandtedescofuneralhomes.com.