Steven Eugene Council

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family’s loss.

I think back to the days when we first met and how our friendship grew over the years. Stephanie and Caren talking our legs off, Bradley jumping off of the tailgate of your pickup time and time again trying to get your attention. Talking about Sooner Football wondering if they had a shot to win the National Championship!!!!! Two guys starting our mowing businesses with our new John Deer mowers. Putting in countless hours running the wheels off our machines. I enjoyed our conversations we had together after we would finish mowing. I distinctly remember one hot afternoon after finishing the church lawn we both were suffering from heat stroke or heat exhaustion sitting on the curb by the parking lot trying to figure out what the heck we were doing That little paycheck kept us plugging right along. Never will forget the day your dog ate the cedar tree….Didn’t believe you until I came over and saw nothing but a chewed up stump….Also remember when that same dog ate the walnut and it stuck in his intestines…As I remember it was not a very cheap Vet. bill I always anticipated you asking me to come over and have the roast beef lunch on Sunday afternoons. Something about it just hit the spot. I think it was adding the cayenne pepper to the mashed potatoes I never left hungry. I watched you raise and teach your children about God and doing the right thing…That left a big impression to this day. I know we both had our struggles at one point and we eventually got it all worked out. I want to thank you for just listening to someone who was struggling. After years of wondering what you had been up to it was a pleasure to re-connect and keep in contact these past few years. I admire you for being strong during your illness and trying to make everything seem OK even though your were in pain. I could not have been so calm and collected. The great thing about Facebook you finally got to meet my family and I got to see how much your kids had grown up over the years and become adults. The picture of you holding the kids in your lap and you sporting that cheesy mustache is pretty funny. I look forward to us meeting again someday. Start working on God to become a Sooner fan!!!! Stan

Dear Stephanie, Our hearts, prayers, and thoughts are with you and your family. God bless you all. Mary Ruth Thurmond St. John’s United Methodist Church Lubbock, Texas

I just wanted to take a moment to thank Steve’s family for sharing him with us at ASC. Not only was Steve a great supervisor, but he was a good friend. Katrina

5312013 Glenda, I grew up with Steve in Ponca City and knew him through the years we attended East Jr. High; played in the band; attended Po-Hi in the same graduating class; garnered honors on our High School Cheerleading Squad. Steve will be missed as true friend and fine gentlemen who always had the gift of firm handshake that conveyed the sincerity behind his warm, generous smile. These messages would not be unique if they did not raise eyebrows but also show the unique individual that Steve was. I still chuckle at Steve’s wry wit and some of his sayings that I still remember to this day. Only in guarded company would I utter them again and doing so I would pass off as remnants of youthful indiscretion. If he happened to relate about his experience as a cheerleader did he also do his rendition of James Brown You know the one he did in our dorm shower amid the on looking gaze of the SMU football team as we shared their dorm while at clinic I wouldn’t imagine that even W could capture the attention of Mr Dynomite hisself the way that Steve did with his performance in that shower. To lift the veil on a rite of passage there is also the tale of young man’s encounter with a razor and shaving cream that was becoming more frequently a dangerous encounter. In that same dorm at the communal sinks, Steve mentored me on correct form and process with the razor as I went on with that necessary daily task. Following his instruction and example, I should pull the razor up under the chin against the growth of the beard rather than slice (ouch!) the blade the other direction. Of course that made all the difference in the world and to this day – every morning I follow that advice and remember Steve for his kindness to think of others. Needless to say, as long as I shave, I will remember Steve Council. I was with Steve when we started at OU and though he struggled I will remember he was very intelligent. His success at Conoco, Mertz and other endeavors indicate his sharp mind and keen insight on how things work. After those years and through our professional careers distance kept us apart. Sadly looking back I don’t recall Steve at our 10 year or 40 year High School Reunions. A note such as this is very difficult to do as I would consider Steve one of my closest friends through that most important epoch of High School which in everyone’s life prepares your passage to becoming an adult. Perhaps best that we missed each other in recent reunions as what I remember of Steve will not change. It’s those antics in the shower at Clinic, advice and suggestions about proper etiquette and that smile behind a firm handshake that cements friendship beyond distant years to eternity. My love and condolences to Steve’s family and may God’s grace be with you for days to come. Edward Gay Po-Hi Class of 1970