Organist marks 40th anniversary at Grafton church

GRAFTON — When she went to church Sunday, a local organist had no idea she would be in the spotlight, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the first time she played there. Doris Rand, 85, of Elyria, has been the organist at Grafton United Methodist Church faithfully for 40 years, starting there in January 1985. "They called and wanted to surprise her and recognize her for her many years of service," said Rand's daughter, Cindy Griffiths. "She doesn't like a fuss over her. She's proud of her talent and knows she is doing the Lord's work, and she's humbly appreciative." Still she was surprised by the recognition, Griffiths said. And she has no plans to slow down. Growing up on a farm in eastern Indiana, Rand started playing piano when she was 8 years old because she wanted to be like her older cousin, who was taking lessons. She started playing for the church she attended when she was 14 and hasn't stopped since. "At that time, in the 1940s, there was not a whole lot of extra money around," Griffiths said. "But her parents made sure she had those lessons." Eventually, Rand moved to North Ridgeville with her first husband, the late Phil Trout, a high school principal. She began filling in at Fields United Methodist Church in North Ridgeville, where she and her family attended, in the late '70s after the regular organist had fallen and broken her hip. She ended up being hired in 1977 and worked there until 1984, moving to the Grafton church a month later. Although she didn't know how to play the organ at the time, she figured it out, Griffiths said. In addition to playing at church, Rand would accompany her granddaughter on piano for high school competitions and play at weddings and funerals. "She has played so many weddings and funerals, and so many church services," Griffiths said. "So many people know her from that. Her dedication is amazing even now. She rearranges vacations so that she doesn't miss a Sunday." After all of these years, she still makes sure to practice once a week. "She's down there today," Griffiths said. "It amazes me that she feels she still needs to practice. I still remember her practicing at home on the piano. Growing up, I would sit and watch her play." Although Rand has three biological children, Brian Trout, of Sheffield; Patti Carpenter, of North Carolina; and Griffiths, of Elyria, none of them seemed to inherit the music gene. "She tried," Griffiths said with a laugh. "It just didn't stick. My older brother played trombone in middle school and my younger sister played flute in high school, but that was it." But that doesn't mean they don't have a great appreciation for what she does. "When they were young, all of the grandkids would run up to see her after she played," Griffiths recalled. In addition to her three biological children, Rand has five stepchildren with her late husband, John Rand, and 15 grandchildren, biological and by marriage, as well as many great-grandchildren. Family gathered Sunday to hear Rand play and celebrate her milestone with cake and coffee after the church service, which also included a performance by the Sonshine Chorus. Rand is retired from General Industries, where she worked in accounts payable. Contact Christina Jolliffe at ctnews@chroniclet.com.