Elvis' Cousin Harold Loyd Dies

Robert Harold Loyd, a first cousin to Elvis Presley, was the stalwart gatekeeper at Graceland who wrote a book about his experiences with the fans.

Mr. Loyd, an employee at Graceland for 32 years beginning in 1961, died Friday of heart disease at Methodist Healthcare-Central. He was 73.

"He really enjoyed working at Graceland and especially the fans," said his wife, Marcelle Loyd.

Mr. Loyd was co-author of The Graceland Gates, published in 1977, which recounts some of his more memorable experiences with the fans of Presley.

Mr. Loyd worked closely with fan clubs around the world, helping to organize charity and other events, his wife said.

"We have friends from all over the world," she said.

"He was a jokester; he loved the people, the fans."

Many of those fans were coming into Memphis from out of town to pay respects to Mr. Loyd.

"He kept in contact with them," said daughter Mary Koster of Memphis. "It was like one big family."

Mr. Loyd had sometimes served as leader of the candlelight vigil at Graceland, the emotional high point of the annual Elvis Presley International Tribute Week during August.

Mr. Loyd also is survived by daughters Carolyn Mitchell of Oakland, Tenn., and Mary C. Loyd, of Wadsworth, Ohio; sons David Loyd of Southaven, Larry Loyd of Hernando, Gary Loyd of Memphis, Roger Loyd of Tupelo, Miss., and Robert Loyd of Wadsworth; 16 grandchildren and 14 great-granchildren.

Services will be today at 2:30 p.m. at W. E. Pegues Funeral Home Jefferson Street Chapel in Tupelo, with burial in Old Union Cemetery near Shannon, Miss.

The family requests that any memorials be sent to the National Kidney Foundation.

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