June 8 is June Campbell Rose Day at East Boothbay United Method Church. Rose is retiring as the church organist after over 42 years in the position. Chuch officials will present Rose with the title of "Organist Emeritas" during a tribute to her service.

Her church organ playing dates back to her high school days in the late 1950s. She first began playing at Boothbay Harbor UMC. Her father, Walcott Douglas Webster, encouraged her to begin playing during church services. Rose's musical background began as a school band clarinetist and piano player. "The church's organ player was looking for a replacement so she gave me lessons," Rose said.

She played organ for the church until she graduated, and moved on to University of Maine at Orono. In college, Rose received a degree in social work and took a job in 1962 with the Maine State Divison of Child Welfare. Her duties included shopping for children's clothes and transporting clients to their daily appointments.

"I found the job difficult, and only worked a few years in the position," Rose said. "I felt bad for my clients because so many were poor. I guess I was too kindhearted for that kind of work."

Her new career was in the art world. Her family owned a Boothbay Harbor business in a building which now houses Orne's Candy Store. She opened a studio called "Above and Beyond Gallery" which showcased up-and-coming local artists. A few years later, she found a better job working for Boothbay Region Art Foundation. "This was a great position which I really enjoyed and they paid me a good salary," Rose said.

In the early 1970s, Rose became the regular organist at East Boothbay UMC. She was married with children and moved to East Boothbay to a  home on Church Street. She began attending the church her grandmother once attended. Church officials later asked her to play organ during Sunday services. 

"The church has a special place to me. My grandmother washed the communion glasses after communion each week," she said.

Rose loves playing the organ. In comparing it to the piano, she said, "You really have to bang the piano keys, but the organ almost plays itself."

Rose is now 86 and lives with her current husband Bob Rose, 83, in their Edgecomb home. She decided to end her church organist role because it became more demanding over the years. "They send me the hymns by email each Wednesday. If it's one I'm familar with I think 'Oh, good, I don't need to practice as much.'"

Several years ago, she wrote her memoir about growing up in the Boothbay peninsula in the 1940s. She is considering making revisions and possibly trying to publish it. The June Campbell Rose Day service begins at 10:30 a.m.

The East Boothbay Methodist Church service begins at 10:30 a.m.