Family-oriented son

Shy, friendly, funny, wishes to be a leader. Dreams of traveling the world. Wants to surf for a living. Wonders what heaven is like.

That’s how Dane Williams described himself in middle school.

The memories brought as many smiles as they did tears Monday when hundreds of family and friends gathered at Hope Chapel in Huntington Beach to remember the 23-year-old Huntington Beach surfer who died in San Diego last week.

“I’m excited. It’s kind of awkward to say,” said Zach Ifland, one of Williams’ close friends who the family chose to give the eulogy. “This is why I’m excited. Because all of you people are in one room with one purpose. And Williams would be thrilled, [he would have] loved it.”

“And he didn’t have to plan it,” Ifland joked, referring to Williams’ usual role as party-planner.

Williams was a marketing intern for the Costa-Mesa based Hurley company. He was in San Diego for a trade show and disappeared late Jan. 26. His body was found miles away three days later. No cause of death has yet been determined.

Friends described Williams as fun, motivated, a bit of a clown and above all, family-oriented.

“What guy would want to take his family to Vegas with him for his 21st birthday?” Ifland asked.

Williams did.

Last Christmas eve, Ifland and Williams sat on a bench in the cold, donning their valet uniforms, working on the slowest night of the year. They had nothing to do but talk in such a miserable situation, Ifland said.

“Dane just said, ‘Let’s talk about the good times.’ Because that’s what Dane was about,” Ifland said.

Williams was notorious for getting headaches and for doing the unexpected.

For Halloween he was a cowboy, wearing a cowboy outfit on his top half, and a blown-up horse below his waist. Before running, he’d eat a chili dog, a chili cheese burger and chili fries.

Sunday night the Williams family had a get-together with several family members and dozens of Williams’ friends, Ifland said. For Williams’ friends, they are one in the same. Williams’ closest friends, nearly 30 of them, stood up during the funeral for his family. Ifland pointed and told Williams’ parents, Valen and Jim, and his sister, Hayley, “This is your family.”

JOSEPH SERNA may be reached at (714) 966-4619 or at [email protected].