Iris Smith
Iris Elaine (McCoy) Smith, 79, of Parkersburg,WV, a former resident of Belleville WV, passed away Sunday August 23, 2026, at Camden Clark Medical Center. She was born in Sutton, WV, the first daughter of the late I.O. “Mac” and Audrey (Fox) McCoy.
Iris was a graduate of Eastern Local High School, Reedsville OH, and Mountain State College in Parkersburg WV. She was employed by DuPont Washington Works for 39 years.
Iris treasured her family and spending time with them was her greatest joy. As an avid WV Mountaineer football fan, Iris enjoyed her season tickets for many years, traveling with her cousins to the home games, tailgating included, as well as taking in many bowl games. In her later years she could be found glued to her big-screen, never missing a down. Woe to the person who called her during game time! The same could be said for both Winter and Summer Olympics since everyone knew better than to call Iris during the entire two weeks of “The Games”. Without fail, she participated annually with a group of cousins who gathered at the Cayton Inn for the first week of March Madness. Through the newspaper she loved she also kept up with other sports, especially local teams or individual family participants.
Iris was known for hosting an annual 4th of July camp out at her home for the entire weekend. Large numbers would gather for swimming, games, great meals and fellowship. For many years she also camped with cousins in many locations around WV. Even before retirement, Iris loved travel; from beach trips with sisters, to traveling the country with sisters, cousins and others, to traveling abroad on cruises, et al, she lived up to the nickname her mom gave her as a child: Iris “Go” McCoy. One of her travel dreams was fulfilled in 2018 when she and a few other family members visited the grave of their uncle Howard Fox, killed in WWII’s Battle of the Bulge and buried in Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery in Belgium.
Iris is survived by her daughter Stacey Shepherd (Michael), grandsons, Morgan Shepherd and Mason Shepherd of Coolville, OH; sisters Julia Cochran (Les) of Washington, WV; Edna Orr of Chantilly, VA and Celia McCoy of Pomeroy, OH; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by brother Dana McCoy, brother Byron McCoy, brother in law Ron Orr, and brother in law John Krawsczyn.
There will be no visitation or funeral service as a celebration of Iris’s life is to be held at a later date at the convenience of the family. The family will hold a private graveside service at K of P Cemetery in Burnsville, WV. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to the Humane Society of Parkersburg to support a cause that was dear to her heart.
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