After Gary read that Mrs. Presley had started a scrapbook for Elvis, he started providing her with clippings that mentioned Elvis. Gary had cerebral palsy, but he was self-supporting in running his own business.
His kindnesses led to a solid friendship between Gary and Mrs. Presley. The whole family became close with Gary, and Elvis bought for Gary, his mother and his nurse, a house on Dolan drive, and for xmas 1964, a new wheelchair. Elvis hired Gary's father, Sterling Pepper, to work as a gate guard at Graceland.
You can read an article Gary wrote about a concert Elvis did in the 70s at https://elvicities.com/~eip/august-1969/reviews-by-fans-1/by-gary-pepper/
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/03/09/judges-elvis-fans-heirs-have-no-claim/24677693
Sadly, their was a squabble over the things that Gary left to his nurse in his will, because his parents wanted to profit off selling the numerous Elvis items that Gary had received from Elvis himself. The court ruled in the nurse's favor of course, iaw Gary's directive
Among the keepsakes Presley gave Pepper were a gold jumpsuit, a lock of hair, a 1957 Chevy, and autographed photos of Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable, according to a complaint filed by Pepper's heirs.
Pepper and Whitehead attended Elvis' funeral, and Presley's father gave each of them a white rose from the casket
During his life, Presley paid Pepper for maintaining the fan club and also asked his friend Carl Nichols to find a nurse to look after Pepper, who suffered from cerebral palsy. Nichols approached devoted Elvis fan and nurse Nancy Pease Whitehead, who immediately took the job - although it was unpaid - and eventually moved into Pepper's home abutting Graceland's backyard.
Pepper and Whitehead attended Elvis' funeral, and Presley's father gave each of them a white rose from the casket
During his life, Presley paid Pepper for maintaining the fan club and also asked his friend Carl Nichols to find a nurse to look after Pepper, who suffered from cerebral palsy. Nichols approached devoted Elvis fan and nurse Nancy Pease Whitehead, who immediately took the job - although it was unpaid - and eventually moved into Pepper's home abutting Graceland's backyard.
Nancy also testified that Pepper told her he did not want his relatives, who were not close to him during his life and were not Elvis fans, to have the collection
'Given this evidence, a reasonable jury could find that Gary wanted the collection to be owned and maintained by a friend who shared his love of Elvis, who had taken care of him and his mother for years, who recognized the significance of the collection, and who would keep the collection unless and until he asked her to return it', the 10-page opinion concluded.
When it did sell, in 2009, it went for 250k
"To Gary thank you for the beautiful bible your friend Elvis Presley" in blue ballpoint pen.
Gary had given Elvis a bible when Gladys invited Gary and his wife to the 1957 Graceland Christmas party.
That was fascinatingly different.
ReplyDeleteI've often read Elvis had a big heart.
This sure proves it. Thx