EDITORIAL:

There are some events so tragic it’s difficult to find a break in the clouds amid the darkness.

Take the case of Dane Williams.

Williams, 23, a Huntington Beach resident and employee of Hurley, a clothing company in Costa Mesa, was found in San Diego recently after going missing several days before. The body showed no signs of trauma and it did not appear Williams had been assaulted, according to police, who added they believe the body was moved. Williams had been tending to a trade show at the Marriott hotel in downtown. He was last seen at the bar at the Hard Rock Hotel.

Autopsy results are pending.

Whatever the results, one thing is clear: He was too young to die.

Williams is described by loved ones and co-workers as family focused, hard-working and easygoing.

“Our sympathies and support are first and foremost with Dane’s family and with everyone at Hurley who is dealing with his loss,” read a statement issued by Joe McElroy, director of global branding for Hurley. “Many of us at Hurley had helped in the search for Dane over the weekend, and no one was prepared for this shocking outcome.”

It would be presumptuous to try to find the proverbial silver lining here. For all we know, there is none.

But we can offer our heartfelt condolences to his family. And there’s always something positive you can do, even in tragic circumstances.

With that in mind, Teresa Ifland, a longtime friend of Williams, has set up the Dane Williams Memorial Fund at Washington Mutual to benefit his family. She said anyone can make donations to the fund, account number 3403116755, at any location of the bank.

“We just love him,” said Ifland, whose son went to school with Williams. “He was a part of our family.”

We encourage Huntington Beach residents to do what they can to help the family in this time of grief.