ANTIOCH — Lois Jean Blair first heard Elvis Presley on the radio when she was 14 and thought he was the best singer she’d ever heard. But the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll” has been more than just a musician, he’s been a lifelong companion – even through her darkest times.
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Blair has collected Elvis memorabilia for decades, including collector plates, a life-size statue, puzzles, posters, blankets, bottles, and a Christmas house that plays his holiday tunes. Her great-grandson was also named Presley in honor of the music legend.
“My son says he’s walking in a museum (when he visits me),” said the 85-year-old Antioch resident.
Blair’s family understood her love for Elvis.
“We knew it’s her thing, so every time we needed to get her presents, it would be something related to Elvis,” said her daughter, Lynn Blair.
While Blair’s love for “The King” has remained strong over the years, her health has recently declined.
Blair was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022. She was in remission for two years until it returned and the cancer spread to her neck, head, and other parts of her body. Then, Blair was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer.
Now, she’s back in the hospital due to pneumonia and Valley fever, further weakening her health.
Her daughter, Lynn Blair, said her mother, who has always had an upbeat spirit, was feeling down, something the family was not used to experiencing.
“She thought she was going to die. She was talking about dying. We got really scared,” said Blair’s daughter.
Desperate to lift her spirits, the family turned to someone they knew could bring back the spark in her eyes: Elvis, or rather, the next best thing.
The family reached out to James Clark, an Elvis impersonator in the Bay Area, to see if he could visit Lois Blair in the hospital. Clark had come to know Blair as she is a regular at his shows at Cap’s Restaurant in Brentwood.
Over the years, the duo became Facebook friends. So, when Lynn Blair reached out to Clark, he did not hesitate.
Playing every bit the part of Elvis – including white bellbottoms, a jacket, and a scarf – Clark surprised Lois Blair on Wednesday morning at Kaiser Permanente Antioch Medical Center.
“I’m still up high in the sky. I can’t believe they did it,” Blair told this news organization.
Her son, Ross Blair, said his mother was moved to tears when she described her day in a phone call with him.
“It was exactly what she needed right now, with all that she’s going through,” said Ross Blair, who lives in Georgia.
Clark spent about an hour with Lois Blair. He serenaded her with her all-time favorite, “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” a song that reminds her of her late husband, Donald Blair, whom she lost in a car accident 25 years ago.
Mostly, though, the duo talked about Elvis and life. Clark even brought a giant teddy bear and candies for her.
“Lois has been coming to my shows, and I realized right away that she’s a huge fan. When the family contacted me, they wanted to pay me, but I said no,” said Clark. “Lois is so dedicated, and I wanted to do this for the family, and it was a really nice visit.”
Clark, who has been an Elvis impersonator since 1996, said he has done similar appearances at VA hospitals and finds the experiences spiritually rewarding, leaving fans and their loved ones with valuable memories.
Blair has seen Elvis perform live four times. Her most cherished memory was when her husband surprised her with front-row seats in Las Vegas for a show in 1970.
Lynn Blair said her parents were married in May of 1970, and her father took her mom to the show during his birthday in August. During the performance, Elvis handed Lois Blair one of his iconic scarves, but someone snatched it away. Elvis, who saw this, went backstage and got a scarf with his name and signed it.
“He handed it to me and kissed me on my forehead,” said Blair. “He even wiped his forehead with it.”
That scarf has been one of Blair’s treasured memorabilia. She said when her mother wanted to frame the scarf, someone suggested it be washed, but she refused.
“‘It has Elvis’ sweat on it, I’m never washing it!’ she insisted,” Lynn Blair said of her mother’s reaction.
The Blairs even surprised Lois with a family vacation and went to Graceland, where they stayed at the famous Heartbreak Hotel and toured Elvis’ home. They also visited his hometown.
Lynn Blair said the family planned another trip next month but was forced to cancel due to Lois Blair’s health conditions.
The family hopes Blair will be discharged from the hospital soon and continue recovering in the comfort of her own home.
