James E. Organist, Ph.D., 68, of Tucson, Ariz. and a summer resident of Saxon, Wis., died Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008, in a drowning accident at the mouth of the Montreal River in Ironwood Township, near the Wisconsin-Michigan border. He was born Nov. 19, 1939, in Wakefield, son of the late Edmund and Rosa Lee (Kadletz) Organist Carlson, attended grade school in Saxon, and graduated from J.E. Murphy High School in Hurley in 1957. He then served in the Wisconsin National Guard and was activated into the regular Army during the Berlin Crisis. Jim received a Bachelor of Science degree from Wisconsin State University-Superior with a major in Education in 1965, a Master of Science degree with a major in Rehabilitaton Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1967, and a Ph.D., also from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with a major in Rehabilitation Psychology and a minor in Educational Psychology in 1971. He began his professional career as a rehabilitaton counselor for the State of Wisconsin in Madison in 1967, eventually becoming an assistant professor in the Division of Special Education and Rehabilitation, College of Education, at the University of Arizona in Tucson in 1990. From 1995 to the present, he was in private practice as a Neuropsychologist in Tucson. While in private practice, he trained Navy psychologists and allied professionals in rehabilitation and psychology at Navy sites around the world. Jim was a member of Mercier-Kero Saxon American Legion Post 371 and the National Board of Rehabilitation Counselors of America. He loved his summer stays in Saxon, reconnecting with family and friends and pursuing his love of fishing. Jim was a caring, committed professional, a loving husband, father and grandfather, and a light of inspiration to a countless number of friends and relatives. He believed in using his playful sense of humor and respect for others as he walked through life positively touching everyone he came into contact with. His gift was in his ability to bring joy and laughter to those around him. God knows how much we will truly miss him. On Oct. 28, 1988, he married Sibyl Weldon in Tucson. She survives. Also surviving are a daughter, Larissa Organist, Mesa, Ariz., and three grandchildren, Andrew James, Ian Robert and Katherine Rosa Lee Peterson. In accordance with his wishes, Jim was an organ and tissue donor, and cremation has taken place. A memorial gathering in celebration of Jim's life will be held Tuesday, Sept. 30, beginning at 4 p.m., at the Frontier Bar in Gurney. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Saxon/Gurney First Responders, P.O. Box 8, Saxon, Wis. 54559 To view Jim's obituary online and express condolences, visit mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. McKevitt-Patrick and Engstrom Funeral and Cremation Services of Ironwood and Hurley assisted the family with the arrangements.