The cause of death for Lisa Marie Presley, the singer and songwriter who passed away last week, has not yet been determined, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner.
The medical examiner has requested further investigation and additional studies to be conducted before determining the cause of death. This is known as a “deferred” cause of death. Presley was 54 years old at the time of her death and a public memorial service will be held at Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee on January 22nd. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to The Elvis Presley Charitable Foundation.
The Elvis Presley Charitable Foundation is dedicated to promoting arts, education, and the well-being of children within the Memphis community. The foundation was established by Elvis Presley himself, who purchased Graceland, the famous estate where he lived and died, in 1957 at the age of 22. Visitors can now tour the mansion, which has been turned into a museum, and pay their respects at Presley’s gravesite located on the grounds. Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis’ daughter, also passed away recently and will be buried at Graceland alongside her son, Benjamin Keough, who died by suicide in 2020.
The Graceland estate, where Elvis Presley lived and died, was held in trust for his daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, until she reached the age of 25. After that, she became more involved with the management of the Elvis Presley Trust and its business entity, Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. (EPE), taking on the role of owner and Chairman of the Board. However, in 2005, Lisa Marie Presley sold a significant stake of the company.
Grief expert David Kessler recently shared on his Instagram account that Lisa Marie had asked him to accompany her to Memphis for a celebration of her father’s 88th birthday, just days before her death.
“Despite having numerous invitations for the weekend, Presley prioritized three events: attending her father’s birthday party, visiting her son and father’s graves after the tours at Graceland, and meeting with a mother who had recently lost a child. She was known for her dedication to helping others cope with their grief, often hosting support groups at her home for bereaved parents. During their visit to Graceland, Kessler observed that Presley was in high spirits and that the location held a special significance for her as it was her “happy place.” The employees there also noted that she seemed to be in better health.”
“Kessler noted that Presley appeared more at ease and was very proud of the Elvis movie. On Saturday night, they visited the graves of her father and son, where they discussed the pain she experienced in her childhood and the recent loss of her son. Presley even showed him where she planned to be buried one day. When Kessler commented on it being a long time in the future, she replied that she still had much to accomplish. Presley leaves behind her three daughters, Riley Keough, and twins Finley and Harper Lockwood. According to a representative for Graceland, they will inherit the estate.”