'She deserved better': Friends mourn Kaylene Allred, Kearns woman killed by husband

KEARNS — Friends and co-workers are remembering a woman they described as a "beautiful soul" after she was killed in a suspected murder-suicide that also left two others injured Monday night.

Police said 61-year-old Kaylene Allred was shot and killed inside her Kearns home in what investigators believe was a domestic violence incident involving her husband, 64-year-old Floyd Allred.

According to Unified police, an argument inside the home escalated. Floyd Allred is suspected of shooting his wife and her two adult children before turning the gun on himself. The children, identified by family members as Brittany, 37, and Christian, 30, survived the shooting. They are Floyd Allred's step-children.

Those who knew Kaylene Allred said her loss is devastating.

"Kaylene was great. She was the mama of the crowd, she was a beautiful soul," said Tanya Metzger, a longtime friend and co-worker of five years. "She was just an amazing person, she truly was."

"She was our 'Coffee Bar Queen' and customers love her. She has been there so long customers had a great relationship with her and are devastated," Metzger said.

According to friends, Kaylene Allred worked for 25 years at a Sapp Bros. travel stop in Salt Lake City, where co-workers said she became a central figure in their workplace family, rarely missing work and always busy helping co-workers and customers.

"I've worked with her for 25 years now, and it's just heartbreaking every time I go to work, and she's not there," said co-worker Angela Simister.

Friends said Kaylene Allred was also the sole provider for her family and was devoted to her three children.

"She deserved so much better," Simister said. "She took care of her kids — she'd do anything for her children."

Metzger and Simister said they were aware of "struggles" Kaylene Allred had with her husband.

"I know that they had been having some struggles," Simister said. "But, I was shocked that it went that far."

At the same time, Metzger and Simister are urging others who may be experiencing domestic violence to seek help.

"Domestic violence is a very serious situation," Metzger said. "No matter how small it may seem, it can always end in a tragedy like this."

In the wake of the tragedy, Kaylene Allred's co-workers are rallying around her children, hoping to help with medical bills and funeral expenses. A GoFundMe* has been created to help support them.

Another GoFundMe* was also started by Brittany's half-brother to help the family.

*KSL TV does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisors and otherwise proceed at your own risk.

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