James (Jim) William Counts, age 81, of Warrensburg, Missouri, passed away on Friday, December 20, 2024, at the Warrensburg Manor.

Jim was born on November 3, 1943, in Toledo, Ohio, the son of Francis and Virginia (Garisch) Counts. On August 5, 1972, he married Jeanne Zwyer in Toledo, Ohio.

Jim graduated from Whitmer High School in Toledo and earned his bachelor's degree from Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. He went on to obtain a master's degree in Industrial Arts from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, in 1967 and a Ph.D. in Philosophy of Education from Michigan State University in 1972.

Jim began his teaching career at Anthony Wayne High School in Whitehouse, Ohio, before moving to Warrensburg in 1972 to join the faculty of Central Missouri State University (now the University of Central Missouri). He taught Safety

Science and dedicated 36 years to educating and mentoring students, retiring in 2008.

Jim is survived by his wife of 52 years, Jeanne Counts, of the home; two sons, Buck Counts and his wife, Heather, of Warrensburg, and Will Counts of Scottsdale, Arizona; and three granddaughters, Addison, Kaelyn and Reese Counts.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, David Counts.

A funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, December 28, 2024, at Sweeney-Phillips & Holdren Funeral Home, with Reverend Andrew Lehenbauer officiating. Visitation will take place from 1-3 p.m., prior to the service, at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Sunset Hill Cemetery.

Honorary pallbearers are Alvin Stokes, Josh Elkins, Rusty Miller, Charles Olaiya, and Seuri Taruru.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Crest Ridge R-VII Education Foundation and left in the care of the funeral home.

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to Gary Mueller for his spiritual mentorship to Jim over the past year, as well as the staff at the Warrensburg Manor for their exceptional care and compassion.