I myself just found out about Brian's passing.I am so sorry to hear this 
My heart goes out to Nancy and the whole family.
I always enjoyed my company with Brian through the years we worked at the Halfway House and after his retirement we would have some good chats as I would bring him old bread to feed the animals in which he loved.Rest In Peace Bri
your friend Sean Carey

Nancy , just received a email from someone who knew you Brian , Sorry about yours and get families loss , what do remember how he enjoyed calling little league games and hearing his voice “ your out” ⚾️. Thinking about you ! Keith Hamilton

My deepest sympathy to you and the Miller /Carkhuff families. 
Dawn Hamilton

Dear Nancy and daughters,

We have been thinking of Brian and Nancy since we first heard of his passing.  Brian was so much a part of St. Paul's and our experience of St. Paul's, it seems hard to imagine it without Brian.  His life long attendance (and Nancy's) is a great testament to your family's  devotion, dedication, and loyalty.  We need more examples of such steadfast dedication in our lives.  
May you all have comfort that Brian is now with his maker.  Know that we are with you in your journey through life.  
May God bless you and keep you,

Richard and Shyla Spear

I got to know Byran from our church, Saint Paul in Portland for about four years. He was a wonderful man who cared about the church greatly. 

Fly high brother

Brian would come faithfully to give Sadie a bone. 
Rain or shine, cold or hot weather.  I would often say, "Brain it's too cold for you to be out here." The cold did not stop him! 
 I  recently saw Brian twice. Once, he came in his wheel chair to my front door,  and gave Sadie her bone, and I told him my concern with the Apt. units possibly going up at top of Belfort.  He listened but zoomed off to feed another dog a bone. 
     The other time he came to my back door, the fence gate, door was latched, so he waited at the end of my driveway. 
     Sadie could sense Brain was there and made me very aware of Brain's presence.   I came out side and we chatted a bit. 
 Then he said,"give me a hug" as he often did, and asked how my mother was doing. 
 He never complained about himself, but always asked how everyone else was doing. 
He not only cared for the dogs, but I felt he really cared for the humans too! 
   Such a big personality not with us anymore. 
   However, I pray he is in heaven feeding my Rocky and Ginger, and my childhood dog Princess and all the other dogs that he fed that passed before him!  
    I played the news clip of his dog bone deliveries to Sadie. She got all excited this evening when she heard Brians's voice on the news, and went right to the window to look for him. ): 
     It's hard for dogs to understand lose but Sadie surely recognized his Brians voice from the news clip I played on January 21st, 2025! 
      Thank you, Nancy, for supporting Brian all these years in his "dog ministry by driving him around and picking him up! 
      He surely was a genuine dog lover and a Patron Saint for the Dogs. 
Brain will be missed, 
My condolences to Nancy, Diane, Amy, Michelle, and extended family members! 
    Love,
     Melissa Blanchard  
     Neighbor

I have known Brian from our days at Portland High. We worked together for twenty years at Southworth Machine Co. and became friends. He is the reason I moved to the neighborhood and we shared coaching little league for a number of years.
Our families grew up together spent time sharing a lot of memories.  I will miss seeing him on his scooter and stopping to talking about the neighborhood.
I am thinking of Nancy and the family  and know how much he will be missed.

I will miss Brian on my walks through the neighborhood. We would stop and chat and visit with all the local dogs waiting for their treat from Brian. He was a dear man with a fun smile and love of all his special pets.
My heart goes out to Nancy and his whole family.

Dear Nancy, Michelle, Diane and Amy and families,
     My deepest condolences on the passing of Brian.  
Gail Cole Kelly

Brian rolled into our lives and our hearts unexpectedly one day as he rode by our house on his scooter proffering milk bones to our dogs.  Payment for this service was considered complete after hugs had been exchanged.  Over the years we had many visits. Too many to count. Daily when weather was good, and at times even when it wasn’t.  We chatted and shared the stories of our lives, our weeks, our days, but most of all, our dogs.  He came dutifully to deliver bones.  Two per dog per visit.  And if we weren’t home or available to meet him, the bones were left on the porch.  We saved all redeemable cans for Brian to help fund his mission - to be the pied piper of canines.  A goal he excelled at, with no equal.   We miss the random distant song of his meanderings in the neighborhood. We miss your fine company old friend.  You are irreplaceable.  RIP.    Woof woof!

Brian was my Godfather,he always made me feel special,I remember singing in the choir at St. Paul’s with him getting to sing a duet with him at Christmas Mass. lost track of him over the years but never forgot him.I will miss him as well as anyone that was lucky enough to know him.Rest in Peace Brian.💗

My deepest sympathy to Michelle and the entire family. Losing a dad is heartbreaking. May your memories of love and time spent together get you through this sad time.

Brenda Laplante

Dear Nancy,
I was saddened to learn of Brian's passing.  Please know that you and your family are in the thoughts and prayers of all of us in the Faunce family.  
'Come unto me, all who are weary and heavy burdened, and I shall give you rest.'  -Matthew 11:28

I will always remember Brian’s love for the Boston Bruins. He’d make the trip from Portland to our house in Saco (because we were lucky enough to have cable tv) and cheer on his team! During winter vacation weeks when the entire family was up at camp, that man could find a staticky AM station broadcasting a game with the help of a coat hanger and aluminum foil.  He’d get himself comfortable and watch the game with a Black Label beer, a smoke, and had a look on his face like he had found heaven. Well Brian, now that you are in heaven may the all the  games come through loud and clear with no static at all. Rest in Peace.💖
Love, Suzy

OBITUARY

Brian James Carkhuff

October 4, 1940 – January 15, 2025

Jones, Rich & Barnes Funeral Home

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