Gertrude "Trudy" Preece of Las Cruces, New Mexico, passed away peacefully at home on June 11, 2026. She was born on May 14, 1940, to Max and Lilly Lopez of Fort Sumner, New Mexico.

Trudy was raised in Fort Sumner, where she worked as a waitress and cook at The Flying Twins Truck Stop. It was there that she met the love of her life, Bobby. They married and moved to Las Cruces in 1960 to begin their life together and grow their family. Choosing to make their home in the Mesilla Valley, Trudy and Bobby settled in the North Valley, where they operated a small farm, breeding racehorses and raising cattle. This lifestyle afforded them many opportunities to enjoy hunting, fishing, and camping trips together.

After losing her beloved husband, Bobby, in 1986, Trudy never remarried. Instead, she filled her life with family, friends, and the many activities she loved. Throughout her life, Trudy's countless interests introduced her to people from all walks of life, and she loved sharing stories about every one of them.

Trudy made many fond memories shooting pool and singing at local bars, often with a black coffee in hand. In fact, her family likes to imagine that Trudy and Toby Keith are singing together again in Heaven. She also enjoyed playing bingo every week, a pastime she loved so much that she eventually organized and led bus trips from Las Cruces to Sandia so her group could spend weekends playing together. When she wasn't playing bingo, she could often be found at the local dirt tracks, from Sertoma Speedway to, most recently, Vado Speedway Park, cheering on the racers as they slung mud around the track.

Later in life, Trudy worked cleaning newly constructed homes for some of her favorite local contractors. She enjoyed visiting and joking with the workers and was known to bring homemade burritos to sell at job sites. However, she was perhaps best known for the quilts she lovingly made for her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and eventually their children as well. Nothing made her happier than hearing that a new baby was on the way. She would excitedly say, "So-and-so is having a baby—I better get my sewing stuff out!" Every quilt was unique and specially made for the child who would receive it, often bearing the child's name once it had been chosen.

Trudy will be missed for many reasons, but among her family's fondest memories will be the love she showed through a hot meal always waiting on the table and a home where everyone was welcome.

Trudy was preceded in death by her loving husband, Bobby Preece; her parents, Max and Lilly Lopez; her brothers, Isaac, Richard, and Justo Lopez; and her sisters, Lala, Ester, and Betty.

She is survived by her children: Robert "Bobby" Lopez (Sharon) of Fort Sumner, New Mexico; Marcia Preece of San Antonio, Texas; Bobby Preece of Las Cruces, New Mexico; Sam Preece of Las Cruces, New Mexico; and Tracee Southern (Blue) of Caballo, New Mexico; Brother Max Lopez of Port Arthur, Texas; Sisters Frances (Tommy) Potts of Tipton, Oklahoma; Rita Gallegos of Fort Sumner, New Mexico; Velen Anthony of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Yolanda (Mark) Knodle of Las Cruces, New Mexico; and sister-in-law Sally Lopez of Las Cruces, New Mexico. She is also survived by seven grandsons, seven granddaughters, and twenty-seven great-grandchildren.

Carrying Trudy to her final resting place will be pallbearers Steven Preece, Wyatt Preece, Shelby Preece, Sir Sam Preece, Tyler Southern, and Tristan Southern with honorary pallbearer Chance Lopez in spirit.

Services have been entrusted to Getz Funeral Home. Trudy will be laid to rest beside her beloved husband at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens, with her grandson, Trey Southern, officiating the services.

Services will be held on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Getz Funeral Home, with graveside services immediately following. Lunch will be served at the Elks Lodge at 1:00 p.m., where family and friends are invited to gather, share memories, and retell the many stories that made Trudy so special.