Funeral for Howard G. Council, 87, Lawton, will be at 1:00 p.m. Friday. November 14, 2014, at First United Methodist Church with Rev. Al Potts, pastor officiating. Howard passed away Monday, November 10, 2014, at his home with his wife and daughter by his side. Burial will be at Highland Cemetery under direction of Becker-Rabon Funeral Home. The family will greet friends from 6-8 pm Thursday at the funeral home. Howard was born November 28, 1926 to Howard Joseph and Mallie Mae (Sanders) Council in Durant. His family moved to Lawton when he was a little boy. He attended Emerson Elementary, graduated from Lawton High School and attended Cameron Agricultural College. Howard married Genevieve Thomas on August 14, 1949 at the Methodist Church in Sterling. He was employed by American News Company at the time of their marriage. Howard's love of horses and his talent carving leather led to the establishment of Council Saddle Shop in January, 1950. Howard was a custom saddle maker, specializing in roping saddles. Howard received numerous awards and recognitions for his 64 years as a saddle maker. He was awarded the Chester A. Reynolds Memorial Award in 2011 by the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum and he was the first recipient of the Lawton Award in Excellence in 2012. He was recognized by his customers, calf ropers, with a custom belt buckle in 2010 and he was the recipient of a Living Legend Award buckle in 2014 at the Ram Circuit Finals in Duncan. His work as a saddle maker was the subject of the Cameron University Communication Department documentary, "Saddle Up: The Howard Council Saddle", Dr. Matt Jenkins, Executive Producer. Howard had a love of art and enjoyed painting. He was the featured artist at the Southwestern Hospital's Pride Gallery in 2007. He received the 2007 Artist of the Year award from the Lawton Arts and Humanities and he received a Lifetime Membership to the Southwest Oklahoma Historical Socity in 2014. He was presented a recognition plaque from the Wichita Mountain Horse Show Association. He received the Heart Hero Award from Comanche County Memorial Hospital in 2000 following bypass surgery. Howard was very proud of the permanent exhibit at the Museum of the Great Plains featuring a replica of Council Saddle Shop. The exhibit includes tools, machines, prints of his paintings and photographs from Howard's career as a saddle maker. Howard is survived by his wife of 65 years, Genevieve; daughter Carol Roundtree and husband Joe, Lawton; grandchildren: Aubree Walton and husband Justin, Lawton; Marsee Rupp and husband Evan, Frisco, TX; and Mark Roundtree, Norman; great-grandchildren: Hunter, Tanner, Gracee, Dylan and Ilyanna; sisters-in-law: Marsha Thomas, Lawton and Libby Thomas Wheat, Oklahoma City; brother-in-law Bob King; and numerous nieces and nephews. Howard was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Bill; father-in-law, J. A. Thomas; mother-in-law, Velma Thomas; brothers-in-law: Jess Thomas, Jim Thomas and Randy Thomas and sister-in-law Geraldine King. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Lawton First United Methodist Church, 2602 NW Ferris, Lawton OK 73505