Geoffrey Castle performs a Celtic Christmas Celebration this Friday.
See this story on Page 9
Serving Oregon’s South Coast Since 1878 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2023 | theworldlink.com |
$2
Family still seeking answers about missing man Howard Kley disappeared in Coos Bay in 1966 and has never been found By DAVID RUPKALVIS The World
For more than 59 years, the family of Howard F. Kley has waited for answers. What happened to their father? where did he go? Will he ever be found? All they have known and they know today is Kley disappeared without a trace on January 26, 1966, while in Coos Bay. Since that day, there has been no reported sightings, no body, nothing but silence. In 1966, Kley, then 53, was a senior manager with Shell Oil in California. Kley was traveling from California to Seattle with several co-workers when they stopped in Coos Bay on January 26, 1966. The stop was to be for one day before the group continued to move North toward Seattle. The plan was to meet a man in Coos Bay to discuss a problem some boats were having with lubricants, the division Kley worked with at Shell Oil. The man did not make the meeting, the Shell workers
went to dinner at the Skyroom Bar in the Chandler Hotel. Most reports say Kley was last seen at the bar talking to a group of women. He apparently told his co-workers to go ahead and he stayed behind. A family member who talked to The World said they have seen some reports saying Kley was seen being dropped off at the Dunes Motel at 11:30 p.m., with some reports saying the lights in the hotel room he was in being on until 2 a.m. On the morning of January 26, when the other Shell Oil workers gathered to continue their journey, Kley was nowhere to be found. His room was empty. So the other Shell employees left, assuming he would be able to make his own way to Seattle. When they reached Seattle and Kley was not there, Shell Oil reported him missing. The Coos Bay police immediately began a search and were joined by detectives from Pinkerton, who were hired by Shell Oil. The detectives were able to trace Kley’s movements up until
1 a.m., and then nothing. Shell Oil offered a $5,000 reward, but no information was gathered that helped law enforcement find Kley. Ten days after he disappeared, Kley’s daughter had her premiere as an interior designer, but Kley did not show up. Less than a year later, he missed his daughter’s wedding. While the family understands Kley is not alive, they are still hoping to find out what happened to their loved one. The family has been to Coos Bay and has hung up posters in local retirement homes and senior centers, hoping to jog anyone’s memory. The family is looking for anyone who may have been at the Chandler Hotel, the Skyroom Bar or the Dunes Hotel on January 26, 1966. They are also looking for someone who might have been involved with the Coos Bay Pirates Club in the mid- to late ’60s. If anyone has information, the family can be reached via email at findinghowardkley@ gmail.com
Contributed photo
Howard F. Kley was last seen January 26, 1966 either at the Skyroom Bar or the Dunes Motel in Coos Bay.
AKI Gallery features new photography exhibit By BREE LAUGHLIN The World
The AKI Gallery in downtown North Bend is presenting a new art
exhibit during the month of November. The gallery will be featuring Kevin Eckerman’s Photography Exhibition through Nov. 30. There will
be a reception on Thursday, Nov. 16 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Kevin Eckerman is a selftaught photographer who has resided in Southern Oregon since 1994. Photography has
evolved into a major part of Kevin’s life over the past 20 plus years. In 2012, Kevin founded Rancho Eckerosa Please see GALLERY Page 3
Human trafficking a problem on the coast, too By RODNEY HARWOOD Country Media
The photography of Kevin Eckerman will be on display throughout November at the AKI Gallery in North Bend.
Photos by Kevin Eckerman
Confederated chief passes By DAVID RUPKALVIS The World
Donald “Doc” Slyter, the acting chief of the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians died recently, according to a Facebook post by his son, Tyler. Tyler Slater posted on Facebook about his dad and what he accomplished in life. “After a long battle, Chief Donald “Doc” Slyter has left this world to rejoin the Creator. He passed at home surrounded by his family. His lifelong
perseverance, up until the very end, would certainly make our ancestral Warriors proud. Never one to back down or admit defeat, he fought for what he believed was right. “He spent nearly his entire life living on the Southern Oregon Coast. He was married to his wife Debbie for 50 years, yet another testimony of his commitment and determination. At the time of his passing, Donald Slyter was the acting Chief for The Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua
and Siuslaw. His lifelong involvement with the Confederated Tribes gave him the opportunity to witness their return to Recognized status in 1984, followed by 39 years of growth and success. Never content, Chief Slyter felt an obligation not only to those Tribal Members today, but also those of future generations. “His presence will be missed by many. Without doubt, his Spirit will watch over all friends and family. Please see CHIEF Page 3
FIND US ONLINE: TheWorldLink.com
Not every lining is silver, not every ending happy. But where there is awareness, there is hope and where there is hope, there is the opportunity to change the world. The idea that human trafficking doesn’t happen in your community, doesn’t happen in this day and age, doesn’t happen in rural communities or on the coast by the sea is as far from reality as winning the lottery by wishing it so. Here in the United States, both U.S. residents and foreign nationals are being bought and sold like modern-day slaves. Traffickers use violence, manipulation, false promises of wellpaying jobs or romantic relationships to exploit victims. Christina Causey thought about it for a minute. She is one that can truthfully say she has walked a mile in the shoes of those who have been exploited. “I think it’s healing to tell my story,” she said. “I’ve been there. I’ve been sexually abused, and maybe it helps someone else somehow.” Causey is a survivor, an overcomer, since birth. She was born to a 14-year-old sexually exploited
Contributed photo
Chief Donald “Doc” Slyter poses for a photo with his wife, Debbie, and his sons in a photo shared on Facebook by Tyler Slyter.
Sports
4
Obituaries
5
Opinion
6
Classifieds
7
Please see HOPE Page 9
EMAIL US: WorldCirculation@CountryMedia.net CALL US: (541) 266-6047 Serving Oregon’s South Coast since 1878 • A Country Media Newspaper • Copyright 2022 Follow us:
facebook.com/theworldnewspaper
twitter.com/TheWorldLink
instagram.com/theworldlink