Ollie’s Pub & Grub in Breckenridge closed to the public Tuesday evening so the friends of Jordan Labarre, the woman killed in Blue River on July 7, could gather where she worked for around five years and celebrate her life.

Alan Bullock, the owner of the restaurant, called the celebration of life event “a call to healing.” The circumstances of Labarre’s death have made it more difficult for Bullock and those who knew her to cope with the loss, he said.

Daniel J. DeVito, 46, was arrested at his residence on the 100 block of Aspen Meadow Drive in Blue River on charges unrelated to the homicide but was later charged with first degree murder following Labarre’s death, according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Officers were called to the scene around 6:20 p.m. for a report of “shots fired” and heard additional gunfire from inside the home when they arrived on scene.

“There was a lot of information going around, that, some may be true, some may not be true,” Bullock said. “It kind of prevents you from putting your head around the situation and truly moving on from it.”

The event was filled with purple, which was Labarre’s favorite color. Staff handed out purple bead necklaces, several attendees wore purple and some brought purple glitter to apply to others’ faces. One friend of Labarre handed out stickers of a black heart with Labarre’s initials “JL” in the middle.

As attendees enjoyed drinks and a buffet dinner, they shared memories of the friend they lost. Adam Tautges, who worked at Ollie’s with Labarre, described her as bubbly, sarcastic and someone who could always make a room brighter.

“(Labarre) always was there to try and help you out if you were down,” Tautges said.

Brittny Bellows, Tautges’ girlfriend, became friends with Labarre through him. She said Labarre was Tautges’ “work wife,” and she, Tautges and Bullock all mentioned Labarre’s humor.

“Jordan was incredibly quick-witted,” Bellows said. “(She) always had the best comebacks, kept you on your toes, made you feel loved.”

Bullock said Labarre’s humor was sometimes at the expense of others, but even when it was, she “had a way to always say it in a way that made that person laugh.” Tautges said Labarre would make him cry laughing every time they worked together.

At annual company golf outings, Tautges said, Labarre would do the “most crazy things” to get her coworkers laughing. Tautges said Labarre was a good golfer and played the sport in high school.

“That golf outing is not going to be the same without her this year,” Tautges said.

Bullock said Labarre had an “infectious” laugh and was a hard worker and leader among the Ollie’s staff.

“(Labarre) was, in a lot of ways, like a big sister to a lot of the other members of the staff,” Bullock said. “She could always be relied on to pick you up if you were feeling down.”

Labarre would make Tautges do the dishes at work, he said, because she claimed she did not cook, clean or do dishes. Tautges said her attitude was ironic, considering she worked at a cleaning service.

Tautges and Bellows said they will miss Labarre’s laugh and “how real she was” the most. 

A GoFundMe raising money to help Labarre’s family cover costs related to “bring(ing) Jordan home and lay her to rest with dignity and love” has raised over $31,000. Remaining funds will be donated to organizations that work to prevent domestic violence, the fundraiser’s description states.

Bullock said attendees at the celebration of life could donate a suggested $40 to get two drink tickets and a buffet dinner. The donations, he said, will go to Larbarre’s family, as will the money generated from a silent auction held at the event.

In a text message Wednesday, Bullock wrote that the event had raised $10,000 for Labarre’s family.

An outpouring of support came from the Summit County community after Bullock posted online about the celebration of life, he said. A half-dozen people reached out to offer items for the silent auction, and even more reached out to offer help in any way they could.

“Usually, you’re going and knocking on everyone’s door and asking them, ‘Hey, do you think you could donate this?'” Bullock said about organizing silent auctions. “Immediately upon the first Facebook post, I had a half dozen text messages, ‘Hey, I’d love to give something for this silent auction.'”

Labarre’s favorite local band, El Passo Lasso, played at the event, and Bullock said some of Labarre’s friends prepared a tribute video that played as well.

Editor’s note: Requests for interviews with Labarre’s relatives were not immediately returned.