Mary Allison Dunnebacke, 81, of Georgetown, passed away February 9, 2023. Mary was born in Gaffney, South Carolina, on December 7, 1941, to the late Thomas and Helen Allison. She moved to Oak Ridge, Tennessee, (the Secret City) as a child after WWII began. She attended Oak Ridge high school where she met the love of her life, Howard Dunnebacke and dated through high school. They married December 26, 1959, during Howards first break while attending the University of Kentucky. They were married 63 years, setting the bar extremely high.
Mary was a loving and devoted wife and mother. She was an intelligent, vibrant and social person, who always loved to meet new people and foster new friendships. Mary had a long and varied career which she enjoyed very much. First, being a secretary at a radio station while Howard attended UK. After college they moved to Huntsville, Alabama, where she was a medical secretary. Huntsville is where they had their only son, John Dunnebacke. Then moving to Austin where she was a legal and executive secretary before managing a large wallpaper store for many years. Later becoming Marketing Director at both the Renaissance Senior Living community and then Westminster Assisted Living.
She and Howard felt a calling to move back to Oak Ridge in 2001 to be around family. During this time she was Treasurer of the Oak Ridge Visitor and Convention Bureau. In 2012, they moved back to Texas into Sun City, Georgetown, outside Austin. Being such an outgoing and social person she started a Bunko group and a golf group, which she loved. She has many wonderful lifelong friends and equally wonderful friends from her time in Sun City.
Mary was preceded in death by parents Thomas and Helen Allison, brother Ronnie Allison and sister Marie (Allison) Steele. She leaves behind husband of 63 years, Howard Dunnebacke, son John Dunnebacke of Austin, sister Eleanor Clements and husband Bill of Peachtree City, Georgia, her niece, Angie Clements Weaver and husband Larry of Peachtree City, Georgia, and their daughters, Samantha and Victoria. Also, Marie’s son, Chad Steele and wife Christy and their sons Stephen and Justin of Huntsville, Alabama.
A celebration of life memorial will be held in Sun City at a later date. In lieu of flowers please feel free to send donations to charities Mary supported.
• St. Jude Children’s Hospital
• Dell Children’s Hospital