PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — More than 50 members of the community gathered Saturday night to remember Cody Denney, who died after being badly beaten in Southeast Portland in January.
Family and friends gathered at one of the 25-year-old’s favorite spots — Eagle Eye Bar. A sign outside said “Cheers to the Years” and featured photos of Denney’s bright smile.
His stepdad said Denney was the type of young man who would give you the shirt off his back.
“He was one of the nicest guys to ever walk the earth,” Damon Burton said. “He helped anyone and everyone he could whenever they needed, it didn’t matter.”
Loved ones decided to hold the celebration of life at Eagle Eye because he liked to sing karaoke and play pool there.
“We want everybody to be loving and have fun,” Burton said. “They are going to sing songs that they sang with him and play pool too, tonight’s a celebration of Cody.”
Denney was left face down in a puddle near the Springwater Corridor on Jan. 25. He suffered multiple strokes and was left with significant brain damage.
He never regained consciousness and died about six weeks later.
Burton said 10% of sales from the bar will go to help Denney’s parents, who had to take weeks off of work to be by his side.
They are still looking for answers to what happened and who did this.
“Justice for Cody would be awesome,” Burton said. “I don’t understand how we don’t know anything yet with as many people as he knew. I know it was late at night, but somebody had to see something.”