My turn: Former church organist still holds her own

She doesn't use a cell phone and she's never had a credit card, but put 96-year-old Lois Cantrell in front of an organ or piano, and she can still hold her own with the best of them.

Lois was the organist at First United Methodist Church in Portales for close to 50 years, according to current organist Bill Wood, who took over the keys and pedals in 1990.

While she rarely performs in public these days, she did an hour-long funeral service at the church last week, offering the family of Ila Jean Clark the comforting embrace of beloved hymns — "the ones that you know the words to" — and easily keeping a melody going with both feet and one hand while using the other hand to flip through a hymnal for her next selection.

In a much lighter encore on Sunday, she and Wood earned a standing ovation from the congregation with a rousing rendition of "All American Home-Town Band" played with their four very experienced hands on one piano.

Bill Wood says this tiny, gentle lady is one of the best sight readers he's ever known. I'm not musical enough to weigh in on that, but I do know this: she's a treasure, both to the Methodist Church and this community.

Amazing grace? Yes, that's Lois Cantrell.

Betty Williamson is pretty sure she'd get injured if she tried to play an organ. You may reach her at [email protected].