Minister to close Elvis Is Alive Museum

WRIGHT CITY, Mo., Nov. 1 (UPI) -- A Baptist minister in the Show Me State of Missouri has shown Elvis Presley memorabilia the door, closing his museum to the King to open a mission.

Bill Beeny is selling off his Elvis paraphernalia at the Elvis Is Alive Museum, which he has operated in Wright City, Mo., for 17 years, the St. Louis Post Dispatch reported Thursday. In the 4,000-square-foot space he said he will operate a mission and food pantry and use proceeds from the memorabilia sale to get the mission running.

Elvis items were posted for sale on eBay Tuesday and will be available for purchase until late next week. Beeny said he wants to sell the collection as one unit to someone who may want to open an Elvis museum. Items include a casket containing a mannequin resembling Presley and DNA evidence purporting Elvis is not dead, the newspaper said.

Beeny noted Elvis was a generous person who contributed to many worthy causes.

"So, yes, I think Elvis would be pleased with this mission, and perhaps he'll contribute to it," Beeny said.