Search for Kansas City men who disappeared while kayaking in Arkansas turns to recovery

The search for two missing Kansas City men who disappeared while kayaking in Arkansas has turned into a recovery effort after five days of rescue operations, officials said.

On Thursday afternoon, just two days into their family’s spring break trip at Beaver Lake in Arkansas, Chuck Morris, 47, and his son Charley, 20, were reported missing after going kayaking ahead of a storm.

Family members posted a statement to GoFundMe Tuesday, saying officials and loved ones “are in agreement as to the fate and probable location of Chuck and Charley.”

“The weather and other elements created a perfect storm on the lake, and in the lake, that was unsurvivable,” the statement continued. “The community, authorities, and organizations that specialize in finding loved ones are continuing recovery efforts to bring Chuck and Charley home.”

The GoFundMe was started to help Chuck Morris’ wife and Charley’s mother Jennifer Thompson pay for search efforts, therapy and possible funeral services. So far, it’s raised more than $75,000.

The Benton County Sheriff’s Office has led search efforts along with area agencies and family and friends who traveled from out of state to take part in on-the-ground search parties.

Lieutenant Shannon Jenkins, a spokeswoman for the sheriff’s office, said officials would be scaling back search efforts but still working to find Charley and Chuck to provide closure to family and loved ones. Efforts may pause for a bit due to forecasted storms, but patrols will return to the water once it’s safe.

Authorities said Monday that they had found both kayaks, a jacket and what could be a hat or glove in the area.

In Beaver Lake and at Charley’s college, Ohio Wesleyan University, prayer vigils have been held for the men. Another vigil will be held on Thursday night in Denver, where the family lived until moving to Kansas City in August.

Fans of Lotus, Chuck’s electronic jam band that’s set to tour in April, have also shown their support. On Facebook, the band posted that it was “hoping for a miracle,” that Chuck and Charley would be found alive.

“While we are deeply grieving,” the band wrote, “we plan to celebrate Chuck and Charley’s lives, our memories with them, and what they meant to so many people. Thank you to all who have reached out with fond words, stories, emotional and financial support.”

‘A beautiful family’

Thompson said the family had planned their spring break vacation as a way to reconnect amid a stressful year. In August, they moved to Kansas City from Denver, a city where Chuck had lots of music connections. He toured for some time with Lotus, and also worked on renovating their first home while Thompson started a new job and the kids attended school.

“It was really just a chance for our family to come together and unplug,” Thompson said. “Just enjoy each other and just reconnect.”

Thompson described her husband as a loving father and partner, and her son as a great friend who always believed in doing what’s right, even if it didn’t come with a reward.

Laura Ibanez, Thompson’s sister, said she’s shocked by the news and has tried to do what she can to help the family, giving them a place to stay and trying to alleviate their stress during the search.

“It’s just a beautiful family,” she said.