Shayla K. Martin, 52, was killed on September 23, 2016, when a gunman opened fire at the Macy’s department store in Cascade Mall in Burlington. She had worked at Macy’s for about 25 years, primarily at the cosmetics counter, and was remembered for a generous, compassionate spirit and a talent for making people feel beautiful inside and out.

Born in Peoria, Illinois, on November 26, 1963, Shayla moved with her family to Mount Vernon, Washington, in 1971. Before her long retail career she worked at her family’s restaurant, Pizza Pete. She was a devoted mother and grandmother who adopted her daughter Tanya Young on Valentine’s Day in 1994. After the shooting, law enforcement arrested a suspect the next day and investigators reported the attack may have been random.

Shayla’s family later created a college scholarship in her name to honor her kindness and support.