Please note that this post contains affiliate links and any sales made through such links will reward MageeNews.com a small commission – at no extra cost to you.
Funeral services for Iris Sparacino Tugwell, 82, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, October 16, 2026, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.
Mrs. Tugwell passed away Monday, October 12, 2026, in Springfield, Missouri. She was born on August 27, 1944, in Greenville, Mississippi, to Dominic Sparacino and Lucille Sparacino. Iris graduated from Benoit High School in Benoit, Mississippi, in 1962. On August 26, 1962, Iris married James J. Tugwell, Sr., beginning a life together and a family that would become an important part of her story. Iris was an active member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in West Plains, Missouri, where her faith was a part of her life and community. She enjoyed staying connected with family and friends on Facebook, keeping up with their lives, looking at pictures, and sharing in everyday moments. She also had a special bond with her beloved dog, Sammy, who was a cherished companion.
Iris is survived by her son, Jim Tugwell and wife, Hillary; three grandchildren, Emma, Kate, and James; as well as her many nieces, nephews, and other family members who will continue to cherish her memory.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, James J. Tugwell, Sr.; her parents, Dominic and Lucille Sparacino; and her sisters, Merelyn Demus and Janice Brunett.
Iris will be remembered through the memories she leaves behind, the family connections she treasured, and the moments that made her life uniquely hers. Though she will be deeply missed, her memory will live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.
May Iris rest in peace, forever loved and never forgotten, in the company of the angels and in the presence of Jesus.
Visitation will be held from 9:00 until 10:00 a.m., Friday, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Burial will be at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Batesville, Arkansas. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary’s Catholic Church, and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 W. Main St., West Plains, Missouri.
(Iris was the wife of Jimmy Tuggle who was a long time radio host on WSJC)
MageeNews.com is the online news source for Simpson and surrounding counties as well as the State of Mississippi
