Serving Our Seniors Magazine: April - June 2026

A Love That Lasts Nancy Sayler, 87, and Elwin Sayler, 89, have been together for 70 years. The duo met early in life as family friends. “His mother was a teacher of mine, and my aunt was a teacher of his in grade school,” Nancy states. Elwin’s younger sister was one of Nancy’s best friends. One fateful day, the cows had gotten out on Elwin’s family farm. Nancy had surprised him by herding the cows; “I was right beside him. He didn’t think I could keep up with him, but I was raised on a farm, too.” They were smitten with each other after that. She was 12, and he was 15. The two of them really connected when Nancy’s parents invited Elwin’s family to an anniversary dinner. Elwin’s family later asked Nancy and her sister to accompany the Saylers to church. Later, the two would go on to spend a great deal of time together, at youth membership meetings, the feed mill Nancy’s family owned, in the community and high school bands. Nancy reminisced about her first kiss at 13 years old. She and Elwin were in the back of a friend’s car, coming home from a youth meeting. “I remember wondering to myself if I would know how,” she said as she laughed. The couple eventually bought Elwin’s childhood home from his father and purchased a few places independently, including Nancy’s childhood home. After marrying, they raised seven children. “All seven of them are good children,” Nancy says proudly. The kids’ favorite childhood memories are eating farm meals (meat, potatoes, and dessert) in the field. Nancy and Elwin are the predecessors of 22 grandchildren 39 great grandchildren and nine (9) great-great grandchildren. By India Gray ABOVE: Elwin and Nancy as teens. LEFT: Elwin and Nancy recently. Me and My New Hearing Aid I got me a hearing aid the other day. It is quite a marvelous thing I should say. Now I can hear the dogs barking night and day. And motorcycles sputtering all the way. And I can almost hear what the neighbors say. I never knew it was so joyful to hear The excited voices of dear ones so clear. Children laughing and talking and playing near. Birds, gaily colored, with their loud songs of cheer. Oh! How good it is to finally hear. By Delores Dennis Editor’s note: Ron and Ginny Wilson volunteer for Serving Our Seniors. Ginny shared some of her mother’s poetry and said, “Mom would be tickled pink to have her poems in Serving Our Seniors Magazine.” Delores Dennis died in 2001. Delores Dennis 19