Walter James "Jim" Couto

Jim started working in agriculture at a very young age. He worked for Gilmore Land Co., Brea Fertilizer, Producers Dairy and VonFlue Farms, before starting his own farming business in 1981. He loved farming. When possible, he built his own equipment. He worked hard, long hours to keep his farming operation going, doing most of the work himself. He wanted to preserve agriculture in the valley. He was constantly coming up with new ways of saving production costs and growing better crops. He had great concern for the future of agriculture in the valley: increased production costs, water and government regulations were at the forefront always.

He is a recipient of an honorary Kerman FFA Chapter Degree. He won the distinction of Conservation Tillage Farmer Innovator for California in 2007. He was Director of the Midvalley Water District Board. He was chairman of the Board of Directors of Kerman Co-op Gin and Whse.

He was a member of the Ashlan Avenue Church of Christ and leaves behind a most loving church family. He had a beautiful voice and sang with Heart, Mind and Soul. He wrote songs for the group and the ministry of song was his passion.

He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer three short weeks ago and it aggressively took his life.

He was a most loving man, a bigger than life man. We will all miss his bear hugs forever. We take great comfort that he is at home with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We thank him for teaching all of us to love big and keep great faith in the Lord.

The family wants to thank Clovis Community and Fresno Regional Hospital for the compassionate and excellent care they gave our beloved Jim. A special thank you to Dr. Eghbalieh, Dr. Estrada and Dr. Kundu, We will never forget your kindness. We also want to thank all the family and friends who have been so supportive and generous to us during this difficult time. The cards, food, flowers and emotional and physical support have been amazing. We feel so blessed by the outpouring of love and concern. We will be forever indebted. Thank you.

He is survived by his wife, Karen of 47 years; two children and their spouses, Troy and Kim Decker of Reno, NV and Steve and Nicky Couto of Fresno; four grandchildren; his parents; his brother, Mike Couto of Tranquillity; his brother, Joe Couto and his wife Marty of Fresno; his sister, Cathy and her husband, Doug McDonald of Valley Springs; five nieces; and four nephews.

Visitation will be held at Whitehurst, Sullivan, Burns & Blair Funeral Home on Thursday, February 20, 2014 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.

A Funeral Service will be held at the Woodward Park Church of Christ, on Friday, February 21, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. Interment to follow at Fresno Memorial Gardens.