Remembering Jenny Cashwell: Dedicated, inspiring mom

Grieving friends of a Sisters woman who died Saturday, allegedly shot and killed by a Bend man, remembered her Tuesday as a loving, caring mother of two who had come through hard times, inspired many and was fond of CrossFit and a certain soda.

Jenny Cashwell was with a man she reportedly met through a dating website. The suspect, Alan Porciello, is now being charged with first-degree manslaughter.

NewsChannel 21 has been working to learn more about Cashwell’s life. The 37-year-old worked at the Bisnett Insurance Agency in Sisters for 11 years. She was a mother to two daughters, aged 8 and 11.

She practiced CrossFit twice a week at Level 5 Fitness in Sisters. Her coach there said Tuesday the gym was her sanctuary.

“She’s a big part of this community. She’s been a part of this gym family,” Ryan Hudson said

“She went through some hard times over the last five years. This was a safe place she could come to focus on herself and be surrounded by positive people,” he added.

Hudson said Cashwell was a loving, tough and strong person. In fact, exactly four years ago, she became the first person at Level 5 to lift 300 pounds.

This week, Hudson created a “Jenny” workout. He said it’ll continue to be a workout until all 200 members of Level 5 complete it.

For the past two days, her lifting platform has remained empty, in her memory. Sitting on the bench, however, is a case of Dr Pepper. The soda may seem out of place, and it is. But for good reason.

“Jenny’s favorite drink, although I tried to break her of it, was Dr Pepper,” Hudson said. “I actually have caught her at the grocery store buying it, I’ve caught her out of the gym drinking it and I never allowed it in the gym. But on this day, on this occasion, as you can see on her platform, we allowed Dr Pepper. All of us in the first class that she missed drank Dr Pepper for Jenny.”

On Feb. 2, her gym family will also be “Lifting for Jenny.”

She was supposed to compete in her first ever CrossFit competition that day, the Annual Level 5 Barbell Club Raw SuperTotal V. Now, that event is being held in Cashwell’s honor, and will continue to be held in her honor every year to come.

The competition also marks the launch of “The Jenny Cashwell Foundation.” Money raised will go toward her two daughters, as well as the things she held dear, such as dogs.

“(Jenny) inspired us in a lot of ways,” Hudson said. “I encourage anyone who wants to be a part of this to reach out.”

Level 5 officials are also planning a silent auction fundraiser sometime in February and another competition in her honor on Oct. 26.

You can find more information on the “Lift for Jenny” event, as well as other competitions here.

Family members have created a GoFundMe for her children. Cashwell’s family also has set up an account in her name at Mid Oregon Credit Union for the family’s expenses.