Dean Ober Tuggle, currently of Kansas City, MO and formerly of Ohio County, IN, was born as the older son of Donald Garnett and Wilma Lorene Tuggle in Sedalia, Missouri on November 26, 1939.  His childhood was spent, as he called it, in the best of both worlds, growing up in the city of Joplin, Missouri during the winter; and leaving each summer to spend time with his Grandmother Pearl Ober working on the farm in Fort Scott, Kansas.

Dean graduated from Joplin High School with the Class of ’57, then departed for the Univ. of Colorado for his Freshman college year. He transferred to the University of Missouri for the remainder of his undergraduate years with a full scholarship from the U.S. Navy.  Dean then gave the next 4 years of his life to the U.S. Navy where he served his country and made more lifelong friends.  He was honorably discharged as a 1^st Lieutenant in January of 1973.

Dean’s professional career was spent as a sales representative for Ebsco Industries.  Many years were spent in Decatur, IN where Deborah was Head Librarian for the North Adams Community Schools.  Hobbies of gathering around the card table to “play a game”; old Oldsmobiles and old Cris Craft boats brought many hours of pleasure; cause for road trips to car shows; and hours of perusing the Ohio River by water.  Purchasing their 1^st travel trailer began the multi-year project of “seeing our country” including all lower 48 states and 9 Canadian provinces.  After he and Debbie retired to Holmes Hill Road in Ohio County, they owned and operated Tuggles’ Folly Bed & Breakfast for 14 years receiving hundreds of visitors to the Ohio River Valley.  This lodging ownership led to Dean’s participation with the Rising Sun/Ohio County Tourism Board, where he met no strangers.  His gregarious personality further led him to volunteer his time with the Auxiliary of Dearborn County Hospital/Highpoint Health of Lawrenceburg, IN.  With ill health pressing down, Dean and Debbie moved to Kansas City, MO to be closer to family in the event they would be needed.

Dean & Debbie cannot praise St. Elizabeth’s Cancer Care, Lawrenceburg, IN and Hospice of North Kansas City, MO enough for providing tender care for Dean until his dying day.  St. E’s listened and acted accordingly as he spoke of his own personal desires for his cancer treatment; and Hospice as nurses and social workers cared for him at home in his last days.

He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Deborah Salyer Tuggle and daughters Audra Lynne (Bob) Pelham of Kansas City, MO and Alicia Janette (Eric) Robinson of Cicero, IN.  His only sibling, Neal Tuggle, resides in Shreveport, LA, father of his nieces Shannon, Barbara (deceased) and Cindy.  Grandchildren Dalton, Cordell and Eleni Pelham of Kansas City, MO and Meredith Robinson of Cicero brought him endless pleasure thru his life.

Dean took his last breaths at home in his recliner in the early hours of Friday, April 9, 2021.  A Celebration of Life is planned for the afternoon of May 16, 2021 with his cremated remains to be buried with his parents in the Evergreen Cemetery of Fort Scott, KS at a future date.