Daniel John DuBray

1958 - 2025

Daniel John DuBray

July 26, 1958 - February 15, 2025

Dan DuBray, a broadcaster, political communicator and music aficionado, died on February 15th in Portland, Ore., from complications of lymphoma and leukemia.

Dan was born in Everett, Wash. on July 26, 1958 and his family moved to Billings a year later. His parents were F.F. (Dick) DuBray, a career Federal civil servant and Mary Elizabeth Sommerville DuBray, a WWII British war bride and homemaker at the time who scraped together her own money by taking in alterations to finance a Master's degree at Eastern Montana College with a subsequent late career in public education.

After graduating in 1976 from Billings West High, and a year of undergraduate work at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Dan returned to Billings and began a broadcasting career at local radio stations. Following another brief stint in Utah, Dan came home again. From the control room of a tiny Billings radio station, Dan was invited by then news director Dave Rye to audition for a weekend anchor position at KULR-TV ('Straight 8') and was immediately hired. Dan had always been grateful to Dave for his confidence, humor and generosity, which substantially altered the course of Dan's professional career.

Producing KULR's election coverage focused his attention on political communications and, after a brief return to radio, Dan was invited to Washington, D.C. in 1989 to serve as Communications Director for Rep. Ron Marlenee. Following Marlenee's defeat in 1992, Dan came home again and served as Executive Director of Community Seven Television where he led a spectacular growth in the nascent operation, including moderating multiple nationally televised debates for Montana Governor, U.S. Senate and U.S. Representative.

While working full-time during this period, Dan earned a Bachelor's degree in communications at Montana State University - Billings. After being selected as news director of KULR-TV, he was again invited to the nation's Capitol.

Over time he served three Members of Congress and a member of the George W. Bush cabinet in senior communications roles. Early in his stint with the Department of the Interior, which began in 2002, Dan was invited by the Bush Administration to emcee a nationally televised event from the East Room of the White House which featured President George W. and First Lady Laura Bush. He considered it another turning point in his career.

He later became a non-political career Federal civil servant with Interior, serving multiple agencies until his retirement in 2018 as the National Chief of Public Affairs for the Bureau of Reclamation. At that time, he and his wife, Kayleen Jones, followed family to Edmond, Okla. and had just recently settled in Portland at the end of 2024.

Dan and Kayleen's pride was in raising four amazing women: Madeline DuBray (Brandon Embrey) of Seattle; Alexa DuBray of Sparks, Nev.; Kelsey Kinzler (Karl Kinzler) of Hardy, Va.; and Brie Ruiz (Alex Ruiz-Elizalde) of Lake Oswego, Ore. Dan is also survived by four grandchildren and a great-grandson. He is predeceased by his parents and his brothers, Jim and Patrick.

Dan believed none of this life would be possible without the kindness, love and devotion of his partner of 32 years, Kayleen Jones, who survives him.

Dan enjoyed cinema, fly fishing, amateur (HAM) radio and high-powered model rocketry. He was an avid reader, lover of road trips with the music blaring, and a loyal Orioles fan. A U.S. dual citizen with the Republic of Ireland, Dan loved travel there, as well as Canada, Mexico, Spain, France, Morocco, England and Iceland.

Throughout Dan's teenage years and into his 30s, Dan was active in the rock music scene playing the electric bass. He spent many years playing the upright string bass in the Billings Symphony and was also a member of the Billings Chorale. But he always loved music of all genres.

Thanks to all the selfless blood and platelet donors, Dan was able to extend his quality of life and bid farewell to his loved ones. In his memory, his family kindly urges you to make a life-changing whole blood or platelet donation.

Cremation has taken place and no public memorials are planned. Instead, Dan asks you listen to a playlist of five pieces of music which were important to him: 'The Ark' - Gerry Rafferty, 'Cast Your Fate to the Wind' - Vince Guaraldi Trio, 'Your Gold Teeth II' - Steely Dan, 'Debussy Arabesque No. 1' - Jean-Yves Thibaudet (piano), and 'Don't Let It Bring You Down' (Neil Young cover) - Annie Lennox.

Dan always enjoyed good humor and laughter. As a tribute, share some immediately with someone you love.