Cynthia Kae Lynch

Cindy was born at Black Hills Army Depot in Igloo, South Dakota, on January 29, 1951, to Arthur Hoffer and Clara M Hoffer (nee Adam). She was greeted by older brother Wayne R Hoffer and older sister, Peggy L Hoffer. She also later had a younger sister, Jacqueline Rae Smith (nee Hoffer). She was proud of her family, sister-in-law, Debbie, her brothers-in-law, James T Lynch (Doris), Douglas P Fettinger (Sarah), and George M Fettinger (Deidra), 7 nieces and 3 nephews, 6 grand-nieces, 5 grand-nephews, 2 great grand-nephews, 1 great grand-niece, and many cousins. 

She moved to Ruidoso in 1978 from Las Cruces, NM. Prior to moving to Ruidoso, she competed in a stock car race on an oval track. Her dad was not pleased, so she promised him that she would quit when she won her first race. Lo and behold, she won her first race, and as promised, she gave up racing. She met Gary Lynch after moving to Ruidoso. He was building his first home in Alto Village when they met on April 3, 1980, dated one year and married in the new home on April 3rd, 1981. They were coming up on their 45th wedding anniversary, and had been together for almost 46 years. 

Cindy’s background prior to real estate included banking, bookkeeping, office management, and she also handled the marketing and public relations for International Galleries, representing well-known sculptor, Lincoln Fox. 

Cindy and Gary started Gary Lynch Realty in April 1987, after Gary had already been in the realty business for 13 years. Cindy thought she would like to get her real estate license since she was now half owner in a real estate company. She even thought that would be a good plan since Gary worked all the time, and late hours, so she thought she would see him more. Gary said it would be a great idea, although he did not comment that they would see each other more after several years getting established, but that didn’t pan out because they were now very busy. So much for that plan! They worked it out as they loved each other’s company. 

Cindy excelled in the real estate business. She served on the Planning and Zoning Committee for the Village of Ruidoso Downs, was a past Director of the Ruidoso Valley Chamber of Commerce, serving as Vice-President of Economic Development; a past Director and Treasurer of the Economic Development Corporation of Lincoln County; past President, Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer, and Director of the Ruidoso Board of REALTORS® and was named REALTOR® of the Year in 1991. She was also a past Director for the REALTORS® Association of New Mexico (RANM) and was Chair of RANM's State Convention held in Ruidoso in 1995 and 2000. She served as the 1999 President of the Stanley H. Mathis Foundation which is affiliated with the REALTORS® Association of New Mexico. She held the position of RANM's Southwest District Vice President, encompassing territory covering Alamogordo, Las Cruces, Deming, Silver City and Truth or Consequences, served as RANM's 2000 Treasurer, President Elect for 2001 and President in 2002, and was Chair of RANM RPAC for three years. She was extremely proud of being chosen REALTOR® of the Year by the REALTORS® Association of New Mexico. Beginning in 2000, she served on NAR’s Convention, Communications and Housing Needs Committees. During her year as RANM President, she served as a NAR Director. She was made a Life Member in the National Register of Who's Who of Professionals in the Real Estate field. Appointed by the National Association of REALTORS®, she served as Federal Political Coordinator for Senator Pete V. Domenici and Congressman Steve Pearce.

She loved to be in local plays and even directed a Realtor show that was not only funny, but so entertaining that the state Realtor® Association asked her and players to bring the show to Albuquerque for the state convention, which they did and it was a great and funny success. She was also involved in various community-based volunteer organizations, including St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital Bike-a-Thon, Ski Apache Disabled Skier’s Association, and Ruidoso Little Theater. She also sponsored and coordinated, with Gary, Camp Enchantment, a summer vacation for children with cancer from all over NM. She coached boy’s Little League baseball (actor Neil Patrick Harris was her batboy!), was one of the founders of the Women’s Softball Association in Lincoln County, was an avid supporter of the Spencer Theater for the Performing Arts, as well as the Hubbard Museum of the American West. She served on the Board of Directors for the Humane Society of Lincoln County, and helped to raise money for many worthwhile causes, like the new hospital, all while healing from six cancers, that included lymphoma and laryngectomy (removal of her voice box). That didn’t stop her! She was still a ball of fire. 

Cindy and Gary really enjoyed flying around the country in their plane, enjoying the different localities. Flying was also a much easier way to visit her beloved South Dakota. They enjoyed traveling when they could, and went to Hawaii, Mexico, Europe, Mediterranean, Nova Scotia, New York, Boston, Maine and the states in between there and NM. 

Cindy always wanted a motorhome to see the country, so Gary bought her a bus after the first cancer. She really loved the bus, and traveling in the bus, even almost up to her last days. In her free time, she also loved playing piano, and loved her “fur babies”. Jamie especially loved listening to her play the piano. 

She was ready to come home from her last trip to MD Anderson Cancer Center, as she knew the end was near. She was tired and wanted her last days to be at home. She will be so missed, and will eventually be reunited with her loyal and faithful husband Gary in Heaven.

A funeral service will be held at 1:00PM Friday, December 12, 2025 at the Racetrack Chapel in Ruidoso Downs, New Mexico.

A celebration of life will be held from 4:00PM to 6:30PM Thursday, January 29, 2026 at the Pavilion at Alto Lakes Golf & Country Club in Alto, New Mexico.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations in Cindy's name to the Spencer Theater or the Lincoln County Humane Society.