Tereso "Terry" Flores Gonzales

Tereso

“Terry” Flores Gonzales passed away on March 4th, 2023 after a short battle with cancer. He was born in Las Cruces, New Mexico on September 14th, 1954 to Josie Gonzales, née Flores, and Miguel Gonzales. He is survived by his daughter, Dr. Adrienne Gonzales of Albuquerque, and son, David Gonzales of San Francisco, as well as his siblings, Robert Gonzales of Doña Ana, Lucy Baca of Albuquerque, Eddie Gonzales of Phoenix, and Racheal Gonzales of Rio Rancho.

Terry’s modest and hardworking nature opened doors and led him on a rewarding and successful path through life. After high school, Terry moved to Los Angeles where he worked and attended classes at East Los Angeles College. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from California State University, Los Angeles and began his professional career as a technical writer for Northrop Grumman. Soon after, Terry made a bold switch to computer programming. In 1990, his family moved from Los Angeles to Albuquerque, where Terry worked as a software engineer for Blue Cross. Eventually, Terry found his calling as an educator. He earned a Master’s degree in Organizational Learning and Instructional Technologies from the University of New Mexico in 2001 and found a home on the faculty at Central

New Mexico Community College’s School of Business and Information Technology until his retirement in 2016. Terry was a skilled guitarist and a lover of music, outdoor recreation, film, travel, and animals. He cultivated a love of music and travel in his children, giving them every opportunity to follow their dreams. His son pursued music professionally, and his daughter earned a graduate degree abroad. Terry traveled the world, visiting many countries across Europe and North and South America. He continued to study the guitar and maintain his physical fitness throughout life; when he was not perfecting a tune or spending time with family and friends, he could be found taking a hike in Elena Gallegos or pushing himself toward a personal best in spin class. He was a warm, gentle soul, who possessed a generous sense of humor and an infectious laugh. His calm and encouraging presence drew people in, nurtured many enduring friendships, and made everyone feel at home. Terry was loved and admired by his family, his colleagues, his students, and his pals. He will be dearly missed.

Services are scheduled for Saturday, March 25 at 10:00am at Our Lady of Health Catholic Church, 1178 N Mesquite St, Las Cruces, NM 88001