Michael Ward Countz met his Lord and Savior on July 8, 2024. He spent his last days surrounded by his family.

Mike was born in Orange, Texas on August 20, 1951 to Luke Wayne Countz and Patsy Brewer Countz. The family returned to the Walker County homestead when Mike was in the sixth grade. He was involved in sports and was considered a great athlete and leader by his coaches and teammates. He graduated from Huntsville High School in 1969, and received his BBA from Sam Houston in 1974. After receiving his degree, Mike went to work for the Texas Department of Corrections. He worked his way to Assistant Warden, then Warden, and after 27 years he retired as Assistant Director of Classifications. Nine months of retirement and watching Jerry Springer drove him crazy and he returned to the workforce at the Montgomery County Juvenile Detention Center where he worked to eventually become the Superintendent of Detention. After nine years he then became Justice of the Peace for Precinct 2 in Walker County.

In his spare time Mike was an avid golfer and poker player. There was no bigger fan of Elvis Presley than Mike Countz. Mike was the ultimate girl dad attending recitals, sports games, doing dress shopping and letting them paint his nails. He has also been his grandson and granddaughters number one fan attending every basketball, baseball, softball and volleyball game that he could. Mike was a member of First Christian Church and a past Master of Forrest Masonic Lodge No. 19.

Mike was welcomed to Heaven by his youngest daughter Stacy Lynn Countz, his parents Wayne and Pat Countz, his father and mother-in-law, Ben and Sue Dillard and sister-in-law Karen Countz.

Left to treasure his memory are his wife of almost 51 years, Patti, his daughter and son-in-law Katy and Ryan Ringo, his grandchildren Blaine Ringo and Madison Caffee, and Presley Ringo, his great-grandson Jameson Ringo, who he was so excited to meet, older brother Tommy Countz and Mary Covington, younger brother Mark and Cherie Countz, brother-in-law Ben Dillard Jr. and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

A celebration of life will take place on Friday July 12, 2024 at Northside Baptist Church in Huntsville. Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m. followed by the service at 2:00 p.m. .

The family would like to thank his hospice nurse Tanya Slater, and Devotion Hospice for their compassion and care the last few weeks.

In lieu of flowers, Memorial contributions may be made to the Texas prison museum or to the L. W. Countz Scholarship Fund at Forrest Masonic Lodge No. 19 in Huntsville.