Premiere Branson entertainer Lloyd Presley dies

Lloyd Hobart Presley, a premiere member of Presleys' Country Jubliee, died Oct. 23. He was 86.

Presley died in his home after suffering a gradual decline in health after the death of his wife, Bessie Mae, in August 2007, according to an obituary provided by Presleys' Country Jubilee.

Presley lived in Springfield with his wife and four children - Deanna Drennon, Gary Presley, Steve Presley and Janice Sutherland - for the first 25 years of the couple's almost 65-year marriage and moved to Branson in 1967.

In that same year, Presley - along with his wife, their children, Deanna's husband David and Gary's wife Pat - opened Mountain Music Theater, which eventually came to be called Presleys' Country Jubilee, along Branson's Highway 76. The theater was the first music theater on the Branson strip, according to the obituary.

Presley and his family held their 40th anniversary of live performances on June 20, 2007, and he was honored by Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt, the state legislature, the city of Branson, the Branson Lakes Area Chamber Of Commerce and the Taney County commission.

Presley retired at age 85 last December after 75 years of playing music, according to the obituary.

Presley is survived by his four children, their spouses and fifteen grandchildren.

All services will be held at the Tri-Lakes Center, located at 2527 State Highway 248 in Branson. Visitation will be held from 4:30 p.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 26, with funeral services to be held at 2 p.m. Oct. 27. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorials be made to Skaggs Medical Center Foundation in Branson.[[In-content Ad]]