A Tribute to Patsy Crossman a Past Officer of our club "Elvis Presley Continentals Fan Club" (Secretary) She was one of the four girls who started our club with the help and approval of Elvis Presley
PATSY T. (NICE) ((CLAPHAM)) CROSSMAN Obituary - COLCHESTER - Patsy Tear (Clapham) (Nice) Crossman, 77, passed away on Tuesday, June 25, 2013, in Green Mountain Nursing Home in Colchester. Patsy is survived by daughter, Flora Stevens/Cochran of Shelburne. During her high school years she was friends with Dixie Locke who at the time was dating Elvis Presley. Patsy became close friends with Elvis during this time and started his very first fan club. Read more about this fan club and Patsy at http://www.epcontinentals.com/. The family extends thanks to the staff at Fletcher Allen Hospital and special thanks to the staff at Green Mountain Nursing Home for the loving care and friendship they provided Patsy during her stay. A service was held for Patsy at Green Mountain Nursing Home, Memorial contributions in Patsy's name was made to Green Mountain Nursing Home, 475 Ethan Allen Ave., Colchester, VT 05446.
Vermont Woman Behind Elvis Fan Club
Video on Patsy telling about Elvis and the Club (link below)
http://www.wcax.com/category/166239/video-landing-page?clipId=2805947&autostart=true
The Green Mountain Nursing Home is full of history-- in the lives its residents have led. And Patsy Crossman loves telling her stories.
"This is me, and this is the great one!" she exclaims.
She was born in Mississippi but moved to Memphis, where a young heartthrob was burning up the radio with his edgy rock. Crossman was hooked and in the mid-1950s she helped start the official Elvis fan club.
"Elvis was always such a considerate man," she says.
The club was called the "Elvis Presley Continentals Fan Club" for Elvis Presley... Continentals at Elvis's own suggestion. He drove a Continental at the time.
"It cost a dollar a year to join the fan club back then," Crossman explains.
That dollar got fans a Membership card, a newsletter, photos, Elvis's concert schedule and more. Crossman was the club's secretary and worked near where the King lived-- Graceland-- connecting fans with their favorite performer.
"My work was to get the letters out, answer the letters, and mail them," she explains.
There are now hundreds if not thousands of Elvis fan clubs out there but Crossman says hers was the original. When she moved from Tennessee to Florida, she started another chapter there. And now that she's in Vermont near her daughter, she still gets the club newsletter. The 72 year old keeps Elvis close to her heart-- literally-- with a pendant, and sports Elvis earrings around the nursing home, too. But her prized possession is a snapshot-- it shows Patsy Nice Crossman, Elvis Presley, Jean Drew and Pam Drew
"I was in my 20s," she says.
Crossman says Presley was a gentleman every time she saw him and regrets that some people remember the legend for his health problems or stories of drug use as much as they do for his impact on music. So she focuses on the performer she knew. The young Elvis -- the handsome Elvis who made her swoon with his songs.
"I'll never forget him," she says.
And she'll never hold another celebrity in such high esteem.
Below is the picture of three of the four ladies who started our club, Our first Officers. The fourth Officer is taking the picture. Joan West (Treasurer) A picture of our fourth Officer ( later then at the time)