Memorial Servive for Sierra Leone RPCV John Andrew Auffrey, killed in Liberia. Auffrey worked for the Department of Defense helping clear land mines as part of a U.S. aid effort. He was a member of a delegation sent to war-torn Liberia to help set up peace efforts by the United States, establishing the security and structures for the U.S. to go in and help
Service Saturday for man killed in Liberia
John Auffrey
By ANTHONY A. MESTAS
THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN
LAS ANIMAS - A memorial service for the former Las Animas resident killed in Liberia is scheduled Saturday.
John Andrew Auffrey, 44, of Wind Hoek, Namibia, in southwest Africa, was killed May 24 during a robbery in his hotel room in the Liberian capital, Monrovia. He was working at the time for the U.S. Defense Department in Monrovia.
His memorial tribute is scheduled at 10 a.m. at the St. Mary's school auditorium.
Auffrey worked for the Department of Defense helping clear land mines as part of a U.S. aid effort. He was a member of a delegation sent to war-torn Liberia to help set up peace efforts by the United States, establishing the security and structures for the U.S. to go in and help.
Family members said Thursday that the investigation into Auffrey's death is ongoing and that there is a $10,000 reward out for information leading to the capture of the assailants.
Auffrey was born April 15, 1960, in Ionia, Mich., and grew up at Fort Lyon, which is about 5 miles east of Las Animas. He graduated from Las Animas High School and earned his bachelor's degree at Colorado College in Colorado Springs.
Auffrey worked for the Peace Corps in Sierra Leone and taught school in Michigan before going to Namibia.
His sister, Lenore Behm, said that her brother was known throughout the world.
"We have heard from everyone from his students to all the way up to the ambassador of Namibia. They all say the same thing about how memorable he was and about how he could get things done. He tried so hard to help the people of the world that needed it. It came from his heart and he really believed in everything he did," she said.
