A La Center boy who died last week after collapsing during basketball practice will be honored before his team’s season opener Thursday, school district officials said.
Cody Sherrell died Monday, Jan. 9, at Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel in Portland, six days after he suffered sudden cardiac arrest at the end of La Center Middle School’s first practice of the season. Sherrell was 14.
The La Center Middle School basketball team will honor Cody during a special ceremony at 4:30 p.m. Thursday. The team will play Hockinson Middle School immediately afterward.
A memorial service for Cody is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday at Ridgefield Nazarene Church, 747 Pioneer St.
In their son’s obituary, Cody’s parents, Renee and Brandon, thanked everyone who cared for him.
“Their gentle, comforting care provided a peaceful atmosphere to say goodbye,” the boy’s parents wrote.
Donations for family
Admission to the game is free, district officials said. However, donations will be accepted to help Cody’s family offset medical expenses.
Cody’s Kobe Bryant basketball shoes and No. 24 jersey — the same number his favorite player, Bryant, wears for the Los Angeles Lakers —will be on display during the ceremony, La Center Superintendent Mark Mansell said. Cody’s teammates nicknamed the school’s basketball court, “Cody’s Court,” according to his obituary. This would have been the first year the eighth-grader played on the school team.
Cody will also be remembered during a Zumba fundraiser Feb. 25 in the La Center High gym, city officials said. The session will run from 6 to 7:30 p.m., and raise money to offset his family’s medical costs.
Fees for the exercise class will be $10, said organizer Tracy Grindle. You can contact Grindle at 360-600-6088 for more information. You do not have to make a reservation to participate, she said.
Memorial donations may be made in Cody’s name at any area Columbia Credit Union.
Ray Legendre: 360-735-4517; www.facebook.com/raylegend; www.twitter.com/col_smallcities; ray.legendre@columbian.com
