Slain Dale McCauley farewelled in Adelaide

Murdered South Australian man Dale McCauley has been farewelled at a memorial service in Adelaide 18 years after he went missing.

The 44-year-old's remains were discovered at Second Valley, south of Adelaide, in January and a 65-year-old man has been charged with his murder.

Mr McCauley has been remembered as a quiet man who touched many lives.

"Dale reached out and touched many people, making many friends," a memorial card at Tuesday's service in Morphett Vale read.

Mr McCauley's sister Sandra Cole-Stokes paid tribute to his ideas streak.

"He began Piccadilly bottled spring water, he built an unusual house and other buildings. He converted a double-decker bus. He set up a screen-printing and t-shirt business and raced go-karts," she said.

Mrs Cole-Stokes also asked families with missing loved ones not to give up hope.

"The discovery of Dale's body is tragic and the knowledge that another person took his life is heart-wrenching but also it is an ending - and ending that affords Sandra an opportunity to say goodbye," SA Victims' Rights Commissioner Michael O'Connell said.