John departed this life peacefully on August 2, surrounded by his loving family and pastor, after a brief illness. He was born to Clayton Edward and Lena Johnson Mahaffey on November 6, 1926, in St. Joseph, Missouri. John graduated from Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta. He served in the US Army from 1944 to 1946. John led a full life and distinguished himself in business, civic, and community realms. He owned and operated radio stations in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Texas and New Mexico, with his son Robert. His loves were his dear spouse Fredna; his family, friends and his community, state and country. John loved Fort Leonard Wood and soldiers in general and devoted himself to both for more than three decades. John was appointed as a Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army in 1974 and served under five Presidents ending in his elevation to Civilian Aide Emeritus. He started Friends of the Fort to assure that important programs would be assigned there and make the base one of the premier Army training centers. The John B. Mahaffey Museum Complex at Fort Leonard Wood is named in his honor. He established the Fort Leonard Wood chapter of the Wounded Warrior Fund and, with spouse Fredna, the Operation Promises scholarship at Missouri State University for veterans who have been injured in combat since September 11, 2001. In 2010 he received two lifetime achievement awards from the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) and Fort Leonard Wood. In 1994 he received the AUSA's General Creighton Abrams Award for outstanding service and the Army Engineers Association Gold Order of the de Fleury Medal for inspirational leadership and selfless service to the Corps of Engineers. He received the Army's Outstanding Civilian Service Award three times. In 2003 John was honored with the Patriots Award, the highest award given by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society to distinguished Americans who exemplify the ideals that make this country strong. John was active in the Republican Party at the local, state and national level because he cared deeply about our country and its leaders. John was a member and Elder of First & Calvary Presbyterian Church, and a former Board Member and two-term President of Cox Medical Center when the land for Cox South was purchased. He supported many local charities and causes including The Kitchen, KOZK Channel 21, MSU Athletics, Greenwood School, Junior League of Springfield, Salvation Army, Red Cross and Victory Mission. He was a former Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Westminster College; served as Member and Chairman of the Missouri Conservation Commission and as a Member of the Missouri State Board of Health. John will be remembered for his honesty and integrity which were beyond reproach, as well as his generosity to others, often anonymously. John is survived by spouse of 58 years, Fredna; son Robert and wife Jennifer of Springfield; daughter Beth Anderson and husband Ken of Dallas, Texas; grandsons John David and Robert Jr.; sister Shirley McCord and husband Jim of St. Joseph, Missouri. Memorial services will be held Tuesday, August 13, 2013 at 2:00pm at First and Calvary Presbyterian Church under the care of Gorman-Scharpf Brentwood Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First and Calvary Presbyterian Church, 820 E. Cherry St, Springfield, MO 65806 or The AUSA Wounded Warrior Fund, 103 St. Robert Blvd, St. Robert, MO 65584. Online condolences may be left at www.gormanscharpf.com.