James William Coultas

James William Coultas

Ojai, CA

James William Coultas, a longtime Ojai Valley citrus rancher and former member of the Casitas Municipal Water District board of directors, died Tuesday, August 18, 2015, in his home, surrounded by family who love him. He was 71.

Jim was born November 18, 1943, in Ventura to James Alexander and Margaret Elizabeth Homer Coultas, and was raised in Ojai, graduating from Nordhoff High School in 1961. He attended the University of Nevada at Reno before transferring to the University of Southern California and earning a degree in accounting in 1966. Jim fostered a lifelong love for all things USC, especially his beloved Trojan football team, which on Saturdays in the fall alternately vexed him and filled him with great joy.

He joined the Army in 1967 and attended Officer Training School, achieving the rank of 1st Lieutenant while stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington. Jim was an active duty service member until the devastating winter floods of 1969 forced him to return to the family ranch on the east end of the valley, where he manned a yellow Caterpillar D8 to help his father, and neighboring ranchers, shore up creek banks and keep surging floodwaters at bay.

The situation became so dire that he ultimately received an emergency honorable discharge from the service to tend to the ranch fulltime, which he did for the next 45 years, living an idyllic life among his lemons, avocados and oranges.

Long invested in service to his community, Jim served for 19 years on the board of the Casitas Municipal Water District, a position he took over from his father and one that he took extremely seriously, especially when it came to protecting and preserving the water supply for residents of the valley.

"My job is to represent the water users of my district, and that's what I'm doing," he told the Los Angeles Times when he last ran for reelection in 2004.

A recognized expert on statewide water issues, Jim also served on the boards of the Association of California Water Agencies and the Ojai Basin Groundwater Management Agency.

A talented high school athlete, Jim pursued a passion for sports his entire life. In 1973, he co-founded Ojai's Slow Pitch Softball Tournament, a Labor Day Weekend event that at its peak was sponsored by Coor's and drew 64 teams from across the state to compete for top honors at multiple venues in Ojai. That tournament took place annually for nearly three decades.

He also went on to co-found the Sundowner's Golf League for Men at Soule Park Golf Course, which is still going strong after 25 years.

In other areas, he served on Ojai's Parks and Recreation Commission, and played a key role in bringing the canoeing and rowing events of the 1984 Olympics to Lake Casitas, a landmark achievement for which he was always proud. A commemorative poster from that event held a prominent place in his home.

Two years later, Jim was awarded the Medal of Valor by the Ventura County Peace Officers Assn. for his role in saving a man from drowning who had fallen into rain-swollen San Antonio Creek.

In his more personal time, Jim was an avid and expert fly fisherman, venturing to lakes and streams across California and Alaska in pursuit of elusive trout. Trolling on his two-person fishing boat in the High Sierras, his deep baritone voice would boom for what seemed like miles across a lake, as he told his dog to sit down and beckoned the fish to rise.

Each summer for nearly 70 years he would travel to this beloved spot in the Eastern Sierras, to test his skills and sit for hours re-reading old Perry Mason serials. If you knew Jim, you would know the spot. And if you didn't, he wouldn't want to see its name in print for fear of drawing more anglers to the area.

Thoughtful and compassionate, Jim was a lover of animals ? especially dogs and a half-dozen stray cats named for USC football legends. Fittingly, he died with his two faithful border collies, Zadie and Traveller, by his side.

Jim was a better-than-average golfer, a shrewd bridge player and a practical joker with a wicked sense of humor. He also was storyteller of the highest order, one who could entertain for hours with tales of family and friends and the fish he landed, and the ones that got away.

In his final weeks and months, his daughter, Kali Lynn Coultas, became his primary caregiver, and the time they shared together was magical. Together, they watched the sun rise, and the miracle of birds flitting in their front yard. And they said they loved each other ? nothing was more important.

In addition to Kali, Jim is survived by Kali's three daughters, Satia, Sequoia and Sierra; his sister, Terry Coultas Wilson; and his niece and fellow USC alum, Tracy Wilson Alvarez, her husband, Fred, and their daughter, Alex.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurses Hospice., 1996 Eastman Avenue, Suite 101, Ventura, CA 93003: Attention Hospice Donations.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home, 3150 Loma Vista Road, Ventura. Condolences may be sent to TedMayrFuneralHome.com