Cody Mogensen

On May 2, 2021, our amazing son, Cody Mogensen, died from an accidental overdose. He was only 32 years old. We hope his story may save lives and his death will not be in vain. Nobody plans to be an addict. Cody was born on December 15th, 1988 to Lori Hawes and Richard Mogensen in Silver Spring, MD. The family soon moved to Houston, TX where his sister, Nikki, was born. Cody always liked Houston where he made his first friends like Andy the redhead and little Chad Q. They loved romping in the local stormwater channels they called “Bayous”, catching turtles and other critters, riding bikes and just being boys. The family moved to Concord, NC in 2000. Although sibling rivalry was always there, Cody loved and looked after his little sister. When Cody was 18, a senior at Central Cabarrus High School, he was brutally attacked while delivering pizza. His skull was shattered and miraculously repaired by trained and talented surgeons using six small titanium plates. Cody survived the attack to become a strong, intelligent, handsome young man. He loved the outdoors, riding his bike, spending time with friends, hiking the NC waterfalls and he became a very talented photographer. Unfortunately, the scars and results of that tragic incident never left. He briefly attended Appalachian State but got his college degree at AB Tech in Asheville where he lived for many years with his beloved golden retriever, Maggie. The challenges of life and the after-effects of his attack proved difficult to deal with. He began a lifelong struggle with opioid addiction. While being a successful chef in Asheville his demons grew and several stops at rehabilitation programs helped but did not cure that awful disease. Addiction does not discriminate. Opioids and other addictive drugs are demons that affect the way your brain processes pleasure, taking over not just your brain but your life, destroying families and friendships. Cody was clever, handsome, could fix anything, and he had a winning personality. He was truly liked by all that met him. Cody will be reunited with others he loved like Precious the cat, Maggie his dog, and grandparents Jane Hawes and Arnie & Harriet Mogensen. Cody was kind to all and his final act was to give the gift of life through organ donation, so in his death he saved numerous lives. The day Cody died, a part of us died along with him. We will miss him every day for the rest of our lives. The pain of his death is heartbreaking and intolerable, which is why stories like Cody’s should be shared. The only way we will conquer the opioid epidemic is to share our stories and raise awareness. Cody knew Jesus Christ as his Savior, and in the end, it was He who finally decided Cody struggled enough and brought him home peacefully. In lieu of flowers please send donations to Charlotte Rescue Mission – Rebound program in Charlotte, NC. Donations should be made in honor of Cody Mogensen. The family of Lowe-Neddo Funeral Home has been given the privilege of caring for Cody and his family. Services are being planned and will be announced here when finalized. Thank you for keeping all involved in your thoughts and prayers, and for keeping the story of Cody alive.

Cody Mogensen

December 15, 1988 - May 2, 2021