Maybe . . you should try to live your life to the fullest because when you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling but when you die, you can be the one who is smiling and everyone around you crying.

Tonight I have come from the sight of my dear sweet brother , Rex, lying in his casket while many, many people gathered and told stories of their lives with him. A lovely video had been created with photos of him - some in snow and some in warm climates. He was a traveler. Nothing made him happier than climbing behind the wheel of his automobile and taking off to distant places he wanted to see and experience. His wife was a trouper and accompanied him wherever he wanted to go.

His death, so sudden and unexpected, shocked all of us, his brothers, sisters, children, grandchildren who stood looking at his kind face with numb disbelief on their faces.

Rex was a generous man with compassion for others. He could diplomatically negotiate any reasonable deal that had escalated out of proportion, be it family or non-family. He kept his emotions out of the argument. Logical reasoning and his quiet demeanor made people to listen carefully when he spoke.

I listened to his good advice on many matters and I'm so, so happy I did.

Over and over tonight I heard, "what will we do without him? What will Nancy do?"

We will learn the way and we will go on, but it won't be easy. Every person who called him friend, lost a major part of their lives on February 14, when Rex left this earth.

He lived his life to the fullest. He enjoyed driving in the mountains, looking at the wonderful scenery. Once I went with him to Colorado to ski. He was good. I was terrible.

He loved to laugh and enjoyed his family. He loved to sing and had a beautiful voice. It hurts to know I'll not hear that voice again.

He taught me that if you want to do something, don't hold back. If you think the view is better on the other side of the mountain, go over there and see. He took flying lessons and earned a pilot's license. For a number of years he enjoyed flying.

If the weather report says you can't get from Denver to Snow Mass by plane, rent a car and drive through a blizzard but go on. He never felt there was anything he couldn't do if he thought about it, planned it and worked on it. I could write a book on this man. But I'll wait and do that later. Tonight he sleeps in the arms of angels.

The Council Brothers Quartet

My brothers, Ray, Max, Hal and Rex Council used to sing at the Council Family reunion in Crawfordville, Florida. My husband, Barry Beall, played guitar and sang also. Although Ray is gone now and they don't sing together anymore, we have tapes of their music and many photos of them singing. Mother was proud of her sons and accompanied them whenever she could to hear them sing in churches or at the reunions. Daddy seldom went anywhere but I don't remember him ever going to one of the little country churches when they sang. The Council Brothers were well known around south Georgia and sang on WGPC radio in Albany when I was still a teenager. Blanche Crosby played piano for them for many years and Billy Berry accompanied them for awhile.
I was happy that my husband enjoyed being a part of the group and was always ready to accompany the quartet on his guitar. He usually had a solo part some where in the performance. The brothers had an excellent sound and their harmony was good like that of many siblings. Barry was a music major in college and he had and still has a beautiful voice.
For the past few years he has sung with the Methodist Church choir in Hayesville, NC and also with the Singing Disciples, a men's group led by Roger Hove.
Max and his wife, Salita, sang as a duo for some years but lately Max only sings with his friend Jerry Marlowe.
I think Ray's death ended an era of singing for my brothers. They had always been the four Council brothers and it just wasn't the same with only three..