COLTON -- After 50 years of service to the church and her community, Evelyn Riehl, organist at Zion Episcopal Church is leaving the church organ bench for good.

Last year, hundreds of people attended productions of “Sunday Rock -The Folk Musical,” She wrote both the score and the script of the local historical theater production that was performed at Colton-Pierrepont Central School.

In recent years, Riehl also helped organized free summer “hymn sings” in Colton.

Her friends will help her celebrate a life of service at 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11 at Zion Episcopal Church, Main Street.

As teacher, Girl Scout, author, wife, mother, environmentalist, historian, musician, newspaperwoman and more, she has a rich legacy of community service.

Her son Bill Riehl, now from Aiken, South Carolina but who summers in Colton, says “we hope to pack the church as we review her life in the North Country. “

Their “working title” for the event is “these are a few of my favorite things,” as suggested by her teaching colleague George Cox of Parishville, where Evelyn Riehl taught for some 20 years.

“We will celebrate her many activities with many of her friends from over the years,” Bill Riehl said.

More info: (803) 336-8802, briehl@mac.com.