“(due to his terrible diet and pill habits)”
As i understand it, Heart disease ran on his mothers side of the family which he inherited genetically. This wasnt known or understood at the time of his death, but its known now.
The bad diet and pill abuse probably shaved just a few years off his lifespan. Chances are that if he hadnt abused pills and stuck to a more healthier diet, he still probably wouldnt have lived long enough to see 50.
I know Miss Gladys was only 46 when she passed (seems so young these days), just 4 years older than her son. Papa Vernon made it to 63 and had the sad duty of burying both his wife and 2 sons (including Elvis’ stillborn twin). Had he been more health conscious and vigilant about his heart, he might’ve still had 2 good decades left in him (and being in Memphis, he was close to good medical care). But, of course, we’ll never know for sure.
I note Lisa Marie is a year older than her grandma was when she died (47), which is hard to believe. Hopefully, she will have many more years left in her.