Esther grew up on a small dry-land farm in rural central Kansas, where hard work and family values shaped the life she would go on to live. She married her high school sweetheart, a farmer, and together they built a life rooted in love, resilience, and community.
For a time, Esther taught junior high English before staying home with her two children. When they were old enough, she returned to school to earn her master’s degree in psychology, beginning a long career dedicated to helping others as a psychologist.
Her children fondly remember summers spent traveling together, often to Colorado but sometimes all the way to the coasts, as well as lively gatherings at their home filled with laughter, card games of ten-point pitch, and annual Fourth of July celebrations.
Music was one of Esther’s deepest passions. A gifted musician, she played the piano, organ, and baritone, sharing her talents with her church, its choir, and at countless weddings and funerals. She continued to play piano well into her final days. Esther was also a gifted writer, capturing moments of farm life, family, and personal reflection through short stories, poetry, and three published books.
Above all, Esther loved her family deeply, especially her granddaughters, who were the light of her life. Known for her quick wit, her warmth, and even her famous
potato salad, she brought joy wherever she went.
Esther chose to be a donor, a decision her family proudly honored. “It makes perfect sense for her to continue that legacy even after death,” her daughter shared. “She spent her life helping others—through her work, on the farm, with her family, and even in retirement sewing hundreds of dresses and comforters for those in need.”
Esther’s story is one of service, creativity, and love that continues to ripple outward. Her words, like her life, remain a gift. To close, her family shared her last poem as a way of honoring her voice and memory:
A NEW RHYTHM – written by Esther Fay Sayler in June of 2025 (1948-2025)
“Flow”
“Gush”
Origins for our word “rhythm”
Rhythm is Inherent in nature’s music
The courtship of birds
The distant rumble of jungle elephants
The snarl of a dirigible
The vibration of a 32 foot organ pipe
Rhythm is inherent in life’s music too
Ecclesiastes speaks to it
“A time to be born…”
“A time to plant…”
My early life had a rhythm
Get up
Get dressed
Work
Rural Kansas Mennonites had a rhythm
Everyone does, I suppose,
For us
Plant Turkey red wheat seeds in the fall
With faith they were planted
Surrendering them to snuggle into the black, cold soil
We would wait
Waiting for their time to be born
To sprout in the weak sunshine of early spring
Break out of the blackness
And grow into golden stalks
With wispy white beards
Plump little kernels
Bowing in the Kansas sun and wind
And then- -the triumphal season
Harvest
“A time to reap…”
Certainly a flow
Hopefully a gush
A gush of wheat
Into the combine, the truck, the elevator
Into our daily bread
Harvest rhythm disrupted the regular beat
The regular, measured beat of our lives
A kind of Syncopation certainly
The predictable, routine beat was bent
The sounds different
The bass of men’s voices
Carried across the fields
The combine snarl
The trucks’ pipes rumble and vibration
Powerful
Housework became less important
Food quicker, cooler,
Transportable to the field
Eaten in the shade of wheat trucks
A dance between harvest need and hunger,
A courtship between expediency and weather
Moms drive wheat trucks
Kids play in the wheat
Get by snacking on potato chips and candy bars
For 30 plus years it was my rhythm too
I loved the Kansas jungle sounds
The “exotic” food
The gush of adrenaline
The syncopation of routine life
The rhythm of harvest
For me…
That rhythm is gone now
And many songs silent as well
The elephants are gone
Courtships over
Dirigible broken
Organ pipes silent
I’m old
No longer a part of the jungle
I grieve its loss
I miss the verdant life
Crave the syncopation
I need a map
The directions to a new jungle
The reawakening of a rhythm
A new flow,
A gush of a new, green, growing life
This year, Saving Sight is proud to recognize Lion Leon Hove as the 2025 Lions Ambassador of the Year, a title that reflects not only his decades of service but also his enduring passion for helping others see more clearly.
Leon first became involved with the Lions in the mid-1970s through the Joliet Noon Lions Club in Illinois. What began as a suggestion from his boss, a past president of the club, quickly turned into a lifelong commitment. But it wasn’t until Leon screened a child for amblyopia using the old Polaroid method, and saw her again months later, proudly wearing glasses and able to see better, that he truly “became a Lion.”
That moment sparked a passion for vision that has guided his service for nearly 50 years.
“I don’t do the things I do for recognition or awards,” Leon says. “It’s enough for me to see the smiles and joy of those we serve. I receive more pleasure from that than they do.”
Leon has dedicated countless hours to vision programs, including KidSight screenings and international eye missions in Mexico and Panama. In 2018, he helped found the Missouri Lions Eye Mission Foundation, creating a 501(c)(3) organization to expand access to vision care. While COVID-19 initially paused those efforts, the foundation pivoted, and in 2024 alone, the Missouri Lions hosted 37 missions serving more than 2,500 people. The momentum continues to grow, with Lions in neighboring states now seeking to bring similar missions to their communities.
A particularly meaningful milestone came in November 2024, when Leon helped lead a clinic at St. Peter and Paul Church in St. Louis, providing recycled eyeglasses to 33 unhoused individuals.
“That was the start of something beyond my wildest dreams,” he says.
Leon’s commitment to vision is also personal. He saw firsthand the challenges his late wife faced due to corneal disease, and he reflects often on what it would mean to lose the ability to see the people and world around him. Now, at nearly 84 years old, he’s still advocating, volunteering and working toward change — even as he prepares to relocate to Arizona to be closer to his daughter.
“I’ve learned Arizona has laws that prohibit the distribution of recycled eyeglasses,” he says. “That’s my new goal — to help change that. There is such a huge need.”
As part of his ambassador recognition, a $1,000 donation was made to the Missouri Lions Eye Mission Foundation, a gesture Leon says is the most meaningful part of the award.
“The fact that it will help buy equipment and supplies to continue our work means everything to me,” he says. “If being named Ambassador of the Year inspires even one person to serve, that would be the greatest accomplishment of all.”
In 1960, Saving Sight began its journey of restoring vision through charitable vision programs, showing a commitment to community needs and a spirit of generosity. While the delivery of our programs has evolved, our legacy of giving continues to thrive through our mission partners. In 2021, Saving Sight’s board of directors established a board-designated quasi-endowment fund to support grants given to charitable organizations with a similar mission. We are proud to share the impact of grants given to four outstanding organizations in fiscal year 2023-2024: Missouri Lions Eye Mission Foundation, KidSight, Show Me Lions Eyeglass Recycling, and Mid-South Lions Sight and Hearing Service.
KidSight – $41,500
KidSight used this grant in general operating support, allowing the organization to expand its free vision screenings and follow-up services for children statewide. So far this year, KidSight has screened more than 43,000 children, an increase of over 4,000 from the previous year, and referred nearly 3,900 to local eye doctors for full exams. The program now serves 100 Missouri counties, up from 94 last year, and continues to grow. With additional grant support, KidSight also partnered with local eyecare providers and hosted mobile vision clinic days in Boone and Jackson counties, delivering 37 free eye exams and 36 pairs of glasses to students in need.
Missouri Lions Eye Mission Foundation – $16,500
Missouri Lions Eye Mission Foundation utilized this grant to purchase new digital fundus cameras and vision screeners—equipment that allowed them to have two sets of identical equipment for events across the state. So far, the foundation has hosted 21 mission events with 19 more scheduled, enabling greater access to care in every Lions district. The new tools have also inspired a renewed sense of purpose and energy among volunteers, strengthening the reach and impact of Lions Clubs across Missouri.
Show Me Lions Eyeglass Recycling – $2,000
Show Me Lions Eyeglass Recycling used this grant to improve building accessibility and enhance warehouse functionality. Upgrades included restroom grab bars, improved signage, and new shelving to better organize recycled eyeglasses. The center also added essential equipment like a pallet jack and hand truck to support the transport of eyeglass deliveries and shipments. Thousands of bags, printer supplies, and cleaning tools were also purchased. Much of the labor and supplemental materials were donated by volunteers, reflecting the center’s deep roots in community support and service.
Saving Sight’s board of directors remains committed to supporting our mission partners in their efforts to restore vision and improve lives. At their most recent meeting in June 2025, Saving Sight’s board granted the following additional funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year:
• KidSight – $30,000 • Missouri Lions Eye Mission Foundation – $13,000 • Mid-South Lions Sight and Hearing Service – $9,500 • Show Me Lions Eyeglass Recycling Program – $7,500
The grants provided this year have empowered these organizations to expand their services, enhance their capabilities, and serve more individuals in need. We are proud of the collective impact we have made and look forward to continuing our legacy of changing lives by saving sight for years to come.
When Dustin received a letter in the mail about his father’s cornea donation, he paused. The logo at the top was instantly familiar: Saving Sight. For years, Dustin has worked with the organization as its financial advisor—helping manage retirement plans and guiding staff through long-term planning. But this was different.
Mark Johnson
“I’ve helped Saving Sight for nearly a decade,” Dustin said. “But to see my dad’s name on a letter from you all—to know he became a donor—it just blew me away. It came full circle.”
Dustin’s father, Mark, passed away in December at the age of 72. In life, he was a devoted husband, father and grandfather, celebrating 50 years of marriage to Dustin’s mother just a few months before his passing. Raised in southeast Kansas, Mark lived a life of creativity, generosity and resilience.
After losing his own father as a young boy, Mark was raised by his mother alongside three older siblings. He met his high school sweetheart—Dustin’s mom—in Independence, Kansas. Together they attended Pittsburg State University, where Mark studied marketing and design. That passion translated into a lifelong career as an artist and business owner. Mark specialized in wildlife oil paintings, lettering, sign work and eventually glass installation.
“Later in life, he bought a glass business,” Dustin said. “He did residential and commercial installs, framing, custom pieces—you name it. Glass kind of became his thing.”
Outside of work, Mark was an avid outdoorsman, antique car collector, and golfer. In his later years, he could often be found on the golf course or visiting his grandkids in Kansas City. Even after surviving a quadruple bypass and a battle with colon cancer, Mark continued to put others first, always finding time for family and friends.
“He would do anything for someone else before doing it for himself,” Dustin said. “That’s just who he was.”
After Mark’s passing, Dustin’s mother received a letter explaining that both of his corneas had been successfully donated and transplanted, restoring sight to two individuals in Pakistan.
“It just stopped me in my tracks,” Dustin said. “To know someone can see the world through his gift—it’s humbling. And knowing that it happened through Saving Sight made it even more meaningful.”
For Dustin and his family, the news was both healing and affirming.
“We’re all givers at heart,” Dustin said. “And if you can help someone—especially when you no longer need what’s being given—why wouldn’t you?”
Today, Mark’s legacy lives on through the lives he’s touched—both near and far. A large mural featuring one of his paintings now graces the side of his hometown’s high school stadium, thanks to donations made in his memory. Dustin is keeping a few of his dad’s classic cars, hoping someday his own son will carry on that tradition.
This Father’s Day, Dustin is reminded of the man who helped shape him.
“I think my dad would be proud,” he said. “Proud to know his final gift gave someone their sight—and proud to know his story might inspire someone else to say yes to donation.”
For months, Sieglinde had been living with excruciating pain and blurred vision in her right eye. “It got so bad I could hardly see straight out of my other eye,” she recalled. Sieglinde endured six months of deteriorating vision and persistent discomfort, trying various eye drops and treatments that offered no relief. After countless eye drops and appointments, she reached a breaking point just before the holidays. “I told my doctor, ‘You have to do something. I can’t take this pain anymore.” Her optometrist told her, “You need something done right away,” and referred her to Dr. Shachar Tauber, who confirmed she needed a cornea transplant immediately.
During her first appointment with Dr. Tauber, Sieglinde remembers asking, “Do you even have any corneas available?’ I thought I’d have to wait months,” she said. “He said, ‘Oh no, we have one right away.’ That was such a relief.”
Shortly after her first appointment, Sieglinde had her transplant surgery scheduled for Christmas Day. “I saw Dr. Tauber on Christmas Day—Christmas morning,” Sieglinde recalls. “I could hardly see out of my other eye, and he saved everything. I told him, ‘It’s a miracle.’ I mean, who does that? Come in at 6 a.m. on Christmas morning to save someone’s sight?” she said. “He’s forever in my heart.”
While she’s still undergoing treatment and hopes for continued improvement, Sieglinde is already thankful for what she’s gained. “The pain is gone, and I can see better than before. When your whole head feels like it’s floating, and then that pain lifts—well, that’s a miracle.”
Thanks to the generosity of a donor and the dedication of her surgeon, Sieglinde’s pain has subsided, and her vision is steadily improving. “I’m eternally grateful,” she shared. “To the family who gave this gift, I just want to say thank you. It’s wonderful that someone would donate so that someone else could see again. I am a donor, and I will do the same.”
Sieglinde’s story is a powerful reminder of the life-changing impact of eye donation. Through one selfless gift, her pain has lifted, her vision is returning, and her spirit is renewed. “I’ll always be thankful,” she said. “Because of my donor, I get to see the world again.”
