Unlike both you and Doris I never did see Elvis or Jim Reeves perform but I did meet Mary Reeves and therein lies my Elvis/Jim story.Back in the mid 80s I was in Nashville for a few days during the month of March.While there I made plans to visit the Museum and check out the JR displays etc. However, upon my arrival I discovered that the museum was closed for the season.Consequently,I went to the Reeves Enterprises office to check just when it might re-open.I believe that I met Joyce and she in turn introduced me to Mary who was in her office at the time.We chatted for awhile and she asked me where I had traveled from.Once she learned this information she suggested that if I met her at the museum the following morning she would give me a personal tour of the complex and answer all my questions about Jim which she did.It lasted close to an hour if I remember correctly.One of the displays caught me right off guard in that 99 percent of the various displays etc. dealt with Jim and/or Jim and the Blue Boys or Mary receiving awards on behalf of Jim.However,the one display that seemed somewhat out of synch with the rest of the memorabilia was a jump suit owned by Elvis, and it was prominently displayed in a glass case right next to the model of the plane Jim had been flying on that fateful afternoon.In that Mary did most of the talking about each and every item in the museum I was curious what she would have to say about this specific item.She was very brief and to the point in that she simply noted that the suit was on loan to the museum because Elvis had been a good friend /colleague of Jim and he wanted to pay tribute to Jim in this manner.Whether that was actually the case I had no way of knowing and I certainly did not press the issue.However, she did ask me whether I thought it belonged there or not? I mumbled and stumbled somewhat and said that it was not my call but that if she felt comfortable with the display that was all that mattered I guess.I often wondered whether that question was asked of others and what actually happened with the suit such as it was.I left the museum shortly before lunch with an autographed photo of Mary and various other mementos but more important with a very positive memory of Mary and all the time she seemingly had for me on this occasion.From all that I have read about Mary as a follow-up to my visit she seemed to treat all of Jim's fans in a similar fashion.Merely first class !! Cheers!
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