James Leslie LaCount

James L. LaCount, “Trader Jim,” of Prescott, Arizona, passed away on August 11th, 2024, in Camp Verde, Arizona at the age of 71. Jim was born to Perley H. LaCount Jr. and Nellie Etta (Potter) LaCount on October 20th, 1952, in West Point, New York, where his father was a Master Sergeant and instructor in the U.S. Army at West Point Military Academy. 

Jim graduated High School through the U.S. Armed Forces Institute, and then received an Aircraft Maintenance Diploma from the United States Army Aviation School. After training he briefly served active duty in South Korea, in a demilitarized zone. Trader Jim, by which he liked to be known, felt that his calling in life was buying and selling goods. With his natural love of people and of sharing a good joke or anecdote, he was a natural salesman. In 1991 he sold everything he had and moved to Prescott AZ to start yardsale-ing, using a bicycle as his means of transportation to and from yard sales. He would resell his goods at Peddlar’s Pass flea-market. Encouraged by that success, soon after this Jim opened his first brick and mortar business on Sheldon St. in Prescott Arizona. He then sold that shop and started a second shop, ‘American Mercantile' in Old Town Plaza on South Montezuma Street in Prescott. His third and most successful shop was located on Iron Springs Rd in Prescott, which he called ‘Trader Jim’s’, a favorite landmark in the area. After selling the shop on Iron Springs, he thoroughly enjoyed retirement but continued to be a well-known tradesman and beloved part of the community, making countless friends along the way. Jim was a lover of fine dining and good food. His favorites were Chinese food, Italian food, and a good steak. In his free time, he enjoyed watching action movies, playing games, bowling, fishing, playing pool, and taking his grandchildren to Wendy’s after a movie. He was a good friend, a great businessman, and fun person to be around. He had a big heart and was very generous. There was a running joke that Jim could sell snow to an Eskimo, or a bike to a blind man, but he would also give the shirt off his back to help someone in need.
Jim is preceded in death by his sister, Debra LaCount (1971,) his father Sgt. Perley H. LaCount Jr. (1991), sister Donna Lambert (2007), mother Nellie Etta (Potter) LaCount (2016), and former spouse Andrea J. Harmon (2021).Jim is survived by his son, Shane LaCount and his spouse, Stephanie, of Utah, grand-daughters Alex LaCount (Will Durfey) and Morgan LaCount, (Zack Williams) and great-grandson Sylis Williams. Also survived by his daughter Shara Benavides, her son Tye Garcia (Kony Cruz), daughter Jasmine Garcia, sons Colby LaCount, and Jonathan Luqueno, and daughters Mia Benevidas and Sofia Benevidas, all of Arizona. Jim is also survived by his niece, January Reichert and spouse Aaron of New Hampshire, and their children, Zachary Hyde, Caitlyn Reichert, Candle Reichert and Ashton Reichert. His departure from this life for a better is deeply felt by many who loved him. 

A Military Honor Memorial Service will be held on Friday, August 30th, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at the Prescott National Cemetery.