Mary Louise (Ml) Dubay

Mary Louise (M.L.) Dubay was born October 26, 1964, in Knoxville, Tennessee to parents Dr. Dennis and Margaret Ruth (Cathcart) Coughlin.  She was a resident of Plano, Texas, and passed away peacefully in her home after a 22-year battle with brain cancer.

ML was a 1987 Honors Graduate of the University of Tennessee and was a Lady Volunteer lettering in Tennis.  In July of 2000 she was diagnosed with a malignant oligodendroglioma brain tumor and after successful surgery to remove the tumor she underwent seven weeks of radiation therapy and two years of chemotherapy.  After successful treatment she was able to resume her career as VP Marketing for Nortel Networks in Richardson, Texas.

She was cancer free for the subsequent 20 years and in 2010 she left Nortel to create her own business, “Toffee Treats”.  Over the years she built it to a nationwide company offering toffee and various candies and confections to numerous major accounts.  In 2020 she suffered a relapse of her brain tumor and once again braved two additional brain surgeries, chemo, and radiation.  In the latter part of 2022, the tumor began to overtake her medical team's ability to fight it and on Wednesday, January 4, 2023, she made the final journey to her place in heaven.

Through the years ML was a vocal supporter of brain tumor survival support organizations and was a founding member of the Legacy Brain Foundation and the Baylor Richardson Brain Cancer Treatment Center.  She was a featured guest speaker of the American Brain Tumor Association at their annual meeting in Chicago.  She was a published author, co-writing 100 Questions & Answers About Brain Tumors offering a clinical and patient's perspective on living with a brain tumor.

One of ML's goals was to help others realize the importance of a positive attitude and how it can provide strength, courage, and hope, to those who are fighting the battle of brain cancer.

Her business abilities were unmatched, and she'll be remembered by all for her easy beautiful smile, style, elegance, and gentle manners from her Tennessee roots.

She will be missed greatly.

ML is survived by her loving husband of 29 years Duane Dubay of Plano, Texas and their dog Huckleberry.  She is also survived by her mother Ruth Coughlin, brothers Dennis Coughlin III and wife Cindy, Steven Coughlin, Mark Coughlin, and her sister Annemarie and husband Michael Gray, and numerous nieces and nephews, friends and all of Knoxville, Tennessee.  ML was preceded in death by her father Dr. Dennis Coughlin, Jr.

There will be a visitation Monday, January 9, 2023, from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at Allen Family Funeral Options.

There will be a requiem mass held for ML at Cathedral of The Sacred Heart of Jesus, 711 S Northshore Dr, Knoxville, Tennessee at a later date.

ML will be laid to rest at Highland Memorial Cemetery, Knoxville, Tennessee.