DENNIS K. “ROCK” NICKELLS

Vernon-dennis K. “Rock” Nickells, age 79, a local singer, entertainer and Elvis Presley impersonator left this world on Monday evening October 11, 2021 to travel to the real Graceland not the one on this earth but the one to come.

He was born on June 24, 1942 in Princeton, IL and grew up with his family around harness horses and traveled theses great states as a caretaker with Grand Circuit Horse Racing and worked for some of the top stables in the industry.

His passion in life was entertaining people dressed in his Elvis outàt with a scarf around his neck and

strumming his six string guitar in front of an audience. He was once pictured posing as Elvis in his outàt on a television commercial for the state of Tennessee and pictured on the front page of the Post Standard Newspaper standing with former Governor Pataki at the opening of the New York State Fair. These occasions are when the real Rock or Rock N Roll as he was affectionately known came out.

He was a simple man with simple means and always aspired to work in Las Vegas as an Elvis impersonator. He traveled to Las Vegas to the Elvis convention but always returned home where he posted the Elvis tour on the side of his van.

He spent his later years maintaining the grounds at the Sunset Ranch in Vernon and sitting in his van at the post ofàce waiting to strike up a conversation with a friend.

Rock had too many friends and fans to mention. He will be deeply missed by all and will always be remembered. The Kings greatest hit was “Return to Sender” and that’s what you have done. Rest well our friend.

In keeping with Rock’s wishes there will be no services and he will rest in a quiet place where he will

be at home. In his memory play an Elvis song or turn it up a notch and remember “Rock” and “Rock

N Roll” as it lives on. Online condolences may be sent to the maleckifuneralhome.com