William Dave "Bill" Countess

William Dave “Bill” Countess passed away peacefully in Mancos, Colorado, on October 21, 2026. Bill was a proud Navy veteran who served three tours in the Vietnam War and served an additional two years on active duty.

Bill was born on March 10, 1945, in Lubbock, Texas, to Louis Countess and Janie Barrow. He spent his formative years in Denton, Texas, then moved to Clovis, New Mexico, at 16 years of age to work with his father. Bill later joined the U.S. Navy at 18 years of age and voluntarily served three tours in Vietnam as a Navy corpsman deployed with the U.S. Marines. After his military service, he completed a formal education at the University of New Mexico, Fort Lewis College and Adams State College, acquiring a teaching certificate. Bill later taught math in Durango, Colorado, and at Cortez Middle School for nine years.

During his time in Cortez, he met and later married Judy Heiman. Bill and Judy chose to settle in Mancos. Bill and Judy owned and operated the MudCreek Mercantile from 1986 until purchasing and operating The Hogan trading post starting in 1990, which they continued operating seasonally until 2022.

Bill was an avid outdoorsman, a two-time world-championship coyote caller, and spent much of his life influencing young adults and many more through hunting, trapping and fishing in the Southwest.

Bill was predeceased by his infant child, William Vance Countess. He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Judy Countess, and his children, Kammi (Countess) Connor, Kristy (Countess) Chapman-Brossart, Thadius Shane Countess, Emily Hutcheson-Brown and William Ross Countess, along with many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The family requests that any memorial contributions be sent to Hospice of Montezuma. As per his request, there will be no funeral services held.

This obituary and photo were submitted by the family.