Death
Parker made his last public appearances in 1994. By this point, he was a sick man who could barely even leave his own house. On January 20, 1997, Parker's wife heard a crashing sound from the living room, and when no response was heard from her calls, she went in to find him slumped over in his chair. He had suffered a stroke.
Parker died the following morning in Las Vegas, Nevada at the age of 87. His death certificate listed his country of birth as the Netherlands but his citizenship as American. His funeral was held at the Hilton Hotel, and was attended by friends and former associates including Eddy Arnold and Sam Phillips. Priscilla attended to represent the Elvis Presley Estate, and gave a eulogy that, to many in the room, summed up Parker perfectly: "Elvis and the Colonel made history together, and the world is richer, better and far more interesting because of their collaboration. And now I need to locate my wallet, because I noticed there was no ticket booth on the way in here, but I'm sure that the Colonel must have arranged for some toll on the way out." For the public, Parker's passing went mostly unnoticed.
Read more about this topic: Colonel Tom Parker
Famous quotes containing the word death:
“‘Lay me a green sod under my head,
And another at my feet;
And lay my bent bow at my side,
Which was my music sweet;
And make my grave of gravel and green,
Which is most right and meet.”
—Unknown. Robin Hood’s Death (l. 65–70)
“All societies on the verge of death are masculine. A society can survive with only one man; no society will survive a shortage of women.”
—Germaine Greer (b. 1939)
“A rat crept softly through the vegetation
Dragging its slimy belly on the bank
While I was fishing in the dull canal
On a winter evening round behind the gashouse
Musing upon the king my brother’s wreck
And on the king my father’s death before him.”
—T.S. (Thomas Stearns)