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La Conner canine resident Brandie Stokes died at age 18 on Sunday, April 23, with her humans at her side.

Brandie was born sometime in 1999, allegedly to a Labrador retriever mother and a dachshund dad. Thus, she resembled a low rider yellow lab.

She was sweet, stubborn, demanding, affectionate and fiercely loved Kane Stokes, her main human who picked her out of a lineup at a shelter when she was about two years old and he was about six. The two were best friends for more than 16 years.

Brandie’s favorite activities were dinner and squirrel chasing. She barked when she heard a doorbell on television, even though her own home didn’t have a doorbell. She was always in the kitchen when there was cooking being done – there was never any worry about cleaning up food dropped on the floor.

Her friends included the canines at the Morse family home in La Conner, where she stayed as a guest a few times when her own family had to leave town. Brandie enjoyed the Morse home so much, she surprised her humans by running all the way up the block to their front door long after she’d quit running anywhere else.

Brandie was preceded in death by her housemates Roxi and Jocko.

She is survived by her humans Bill, Sandy and Kane Stokes, who express their sincere appreciation for the care and compassion given by Dr. Gary Johnson and the staff at Highland Animal Clinic in Mount Vernon.