Loyda Gurule

Loyda Gurule, age 94, was born on March 2, 1932, in Vallecitos, New Mexico, to Armando Trujillo and Maria Chacon Trujillo. A longtime resident of Ojo Caliente, New Mexico, she passed away peacefully at her home on March 7, 2026, after a short illness.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Sammie Gurule; daughter, Kathy Taylor; grandson, Sammy Gurule; brothers Armando Trujillo II, Uvaldo Trujillo, and Facundo Trujillo; and her sister, Sobie Quintana.

Loyda is survived by her children: Joe Melvin Gurule (Claudia) of Standing Rock, NM; Edwina Fisher (Howard) of McDonald, TN; Edwin J. Gurule (Phyllis) of Tres Piedras, NM; and Rebecca Gurule Lovato (Nick) of Ojo Caliente, NM. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Consuelo Sowers, Sarah Gurule, Edwin Fisher, Dena Fisher, Shania Gurule, Serina Taylor, Kendra Taylor, Victoria Lovato, and Nicholas Lovato; eleven great-grandchildren; and her sisters, Erlinda DeVargas (Bobby) of Las Cruces and Elsie May of Santa Fe, along with many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

For more than 30 years, Loyda drove school buses for Ojo Caliente Schools, later known as Mesa Vista Consolidated Schools, where she retired. She had a deep passion for gardening and lovingly tended her vegetable garden until two years ago, carefully canning and freezing the produce she grew. A devoted Seventh-day Adventist for 69 years, she enjoyed cooking and sharing her favorite dishes at Sabbath potlucks. She passed away with the blessed hope of resurrection when Christ returns, to a life without tears, sickness, or death. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.