Obituary: James "Jim" Thomas Countis

James "Jim" Thomas Countis, 59, died peacefully on March 17, 2010.

A service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 24 at St. Theresa of Avila Catholic Church. The burial is immediately after the service at Lone Mountain Cemetery. A reception will follow at Red's Old 395 Grill.

Jim was born July 9, 1950, to Thomas and Esther. He grew up in Reseda and in Woodland Hills, Calif., and moved to San Luis Obispo, Calif., where he graduated high school in 1968.

He graduated from the University of California, Davis with a bachelor of science in Atmospheric Sciences in 1973.

After graduation, he moved to Palo Alto for two years and then enlisted with the U.S. Navy. Jim attended Officer Candidate School in Rhode Island. He worked his way up in the ranks to become a commander and served duty at several naval bases around the world.

Jim was stationed at Pacific Fleet Weather Central in Monterey, Calif., working as a meteorologist for the Navy fleet when he met Paula and they married in 1982.

Jim soon finished his active service with the Navy and began working for the family business, Countis Industries, which produces ceramic materials for the high-tech microwave electronics industry. Jim was the vice president and general manager from 1985 to 2009. He helped move the business from San Luis Obispo to Carson City.

Jim had a compassionate heart and a patriotic spirit. He was involved with the Carson City Search and Rescue Team and was in the Navy reserve for more than 20 years.

He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed camping, backpacking, fishing, hunting, and target shooting at the range. Jim also had a passion for classic car restoration and got a good laugh from political humor.

Jim and Paula enjoyed taking their beloved Keeshond dogs, Kodiak and Adack, on long nature walks in the hills of the Sierra Nevada.

After a long and difficult battle with cancer, Jim passed away in peace at his home in Carson City surrounded by family and friends.

Jim's quiet and loving personality will be missed. He is survived by his wife Paula; brother Tom Countis and wife Michelle Countis; sister Donna Stimpson-Taylor; three nieces; two nephews; and other family across the country.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to MD Anderson Cancer and Medical Center in Houston, Texas, and the Humane Society.