Dennis Mark McLaughlin, 65, of Carthage, TX, passed away on Monday afternoon, Oct. 7, 2019, in Longview. He was born on July 11, 1954, in Lawrence, MA to the late James and Eileen Dunlavey McLaughlin. He lived his early years in Bridgeport, CT and graduated from Notre Dame High School in 1972. He played football and basketball in high school and earned a basketball scholarship to Panola Junior College. He was later inducted into the Notre Dame High School Hall of Honor. After two years at Panola, he earned a scholarship to Angelo State University. He starred in basketball at all three of these schools. He was inducted into the Angelo State Athletics Hall of Honor, becoming only the second basketball player to ever be so honored. He was named to the Lone Star Conference's All-Decade Basketball team of the 1970's, the Angelo State Half-Century Basketball Team for 1950-1999, and was the Lone Star Conference Most Valuable Player for his senior basketball season of 1975-76.  He was the first Angelo State basketball player to be named NAIA All-American or make first team All-Lone Star Conference. He was an All-Region guard at Panola, where he dated one of the cheerleaders, Ginger Brown. He and Ginger were married on December 18, 1976, at the First United Methodist Church in Carthage, where he has been a member for over 39 years.

After earning a Masters Degree at Angelo State, Dennis entered the teaching/coaching profession.  He began that career at Galveston O'Connell High School, where he was the head basketball coach, head tennis coach, and assistant football coach during his three-year stay.  He taught and coached 37 years at Carthage High School.  He coached football all of those years, and also coached basketball, baseball, track, and golf at various times during his CHS career.  He earned rings as an assistant coach for 6 state football championship teams and 1 state baseball champion. He was also on the football coaching staff for 1 state runner-up and 4 state-semifinalists.  His one year as a tennis head coach also resulted in a state title.

Dennis was predeceased by parents; brother, Jimmy McLaughlin; sister, Virginia Rizzitelli; and mother-in-law, Joyce Ann Brown.

He is survived by his wife, Ginger McLaughlin of Carthage; daughter and son-in-law, Lauren and Robert Franklin of Banks, Arkansas; son and daughter-in-law, Mark Patrick and Valerie McLaughlin of Carthage; two grandchildren, Braden Mercer and Madisyn Franklin of Banks, Arkansas; brother, Richard Sullivan and wife Angie of Calabash, South Carolina; father-in-law, Bev Brown of Carthage; brother-in-law, Gene Brown and wife Judy of Spring, Texas; brother-in-law, Gayland Brown and wife Julie of Maypearl, Texas; nieces Kim Guman and Shannon Dingus of Connecticut; many other nieces, nephews, and friends.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, October 10, 2019, at First United Methodist Church with Revs. Kevin Otto and Leah Morales officiating. A private burial will be held at Restland Memorial Park prior to the memorial service. The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday at Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home.

Serving as honorary pallbearers are the football coaching staff at Carthage High School.

Memorials may be made to the Carthage Education Foundation, #1 Bulldog Dr., Carthage, TX 75633 or the First United Methodist Church, 201 S. Shelby, Carthage, TX 75633.

A guestbook may be signed online at www.jimerson-lipsey.com.