Lois Anabelle Bruner, lovingly known as “Sis,” passed away peacefully on January 27, 2026, at the age of 77. After metastatic breast cancer returned following a period of remission, Sis spent her final days surrounded by compassion and care. She died comfortably, on hospice, with a long time friend holding her hand.
Sis was born on January 13, 1949, to Lester Bruner and Mary Kane. From an early age, she developed a deep appreciation for the outdoors, horses, and the rugged beauty of Northern California.
Sis was a beloved fixture in Orick, CA where she led an active life that included barrel racing, tending bar, and driving for the Teamsters during construction of the 101 bypass of Prairie Creek State Park. But Sis was best known as owner and operator of Redwood Trails Horse Rides, where she led horseback rides through some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the world.
Countless visitors experienced the majesty of the towering redwoods from the back of a horse because of her. More than simply a trail guide, Sis was a storyteller, a teacher, and a welcoming presence whose warmth, humor, and easygoing spirit made every ride memorable.
Sis is survived by her niece, her son, two grandchildren, and an incredible community of friends who became family. While her passing leaves an immeasurable void, her legacy lives on in every life she touched, every trail she traveled, and every memory shared.
A celebration of Sis’s life will be held at the Orick Rodeo Grounds on Saturday, July 25. Family, friends, former guests, and all whose lives were enriched by knowing her are warmly invited to gather, share stories over food provided by The Snack Shack, and honor a woman whose adventurous spirit and generous heart will never be forgotten. Bring your horses to participate in a memorial ride to the goose pen tree departing the rodeo grounds at 4pm. Food will be served when the riders return around 5:30pm.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to a horse rescue in her name.
Though this ride has ended, Sis’s journey continues in the memories of those who rode beside her, laughed with her, and loved her. Her spirit will forever be found among the horses, beneath the redwoods, and in the hearts of everyone fortunate enough to have known her.