Hundreds turn out to remember Shauna Allen
Greg Knight
Staff writer
8/3/2017
MORONI—Hundreds of friends and family members gathered at the Moroni LDS Stake Center Monday for the funeral of Shauna Allen, a beloved mother, nurse and friend to many, who died in a car crash last week in Duchesne County.
Allen’s 12-year-old daughter, Josclynn Allen, 12, who had was injured in the accident, was released from the hospital.
The funeral of Shauna Allen, 46, began with an invocation by Allen’s son, Tanner Allen, who said, “Mom, we know you’re okay.”
The prayerful statement was followed by sacred musical selections from Shauna Allen’s siblings, as well as remembrances from her family and Sanpitch Ward LDS Bishop Tad Steadman.
The gathering of mourners was so massive that the overflow of the stake center’s cultural center was filled to the point of standing-room-only.
After the funeral, Shauna Allen was laid to rest at the Wales Town Cemetery, which overlooks the vast expanse of Sanpete Valley—the place she loved so much during her life.
Pallbearers were Tanner Allen, Tyler Allen, Jared Allen, Taft Allen, Kaydon Stubbs, husband Derryk Allen and Tucker Allen.
Allen died tragically in a two-car crash in Duchesne County on Sunday, July 23. Her daughter, Josclynn Allen, 12, was severely injured in the crash and was hospitalized in Salt Lake City.
“Josclynn has officially been released from the hospital, and allowed to continue her healing at home with her family,” stated a post on social media. “Thank you all for your continued prayers, love, support, and kind deeds as the Allen family works on picking up the pieces shattered by this tragedy.”
Shauna Allen was a nurse at Intermountain Healthcare’s clinic in Mt. Pleasant for more than a decade. Numerous emergency first-responders from Sanpete County and the surrounding region were at the funeral.
The clinic, though its spokesperson, spoke of the grief among friends and co-workers at the loss of Shauna.
“We are mourning with our community at the recent loss of one of our fellow caregivers…” said Brooke Heath, a communications specialist for Intermountain Healthcare. “For more than 10 years, Shauna served as a registered nurse with our hospital and the Mt. Pleasant clinic where she made lasting impressions on both her patients and our teams. We, as a hospital and clinic staff, are grateful for the privilege we had to work alongside Shauna for these years. Our heart-felt condolences go out to our friends, the Allen family, during this trying time.”
On the website of Rasmussen Mortuary, a number of those who knew Shauna left messages of love, grief and remembrance.
“No words can be expressed to share how I feel,” wrote Terri Joyner. “I was a [LDS] Young Women’s President years ago and Shauna was one of ‘My Girls.’ I worked at Utah Valley Hospital 34 years and wish I would have known she was working there too … I had not ever seen her again since I moved as she hadn’t graduated from high school yet … I remember going to Timpview High School where we went as a group with the Young Women to watch Shauna compete in a talent competition … I remember how well she and her siblings were raised and how well they all got along … She was as much a mother to her siblings as her own sweet mother … I loved just watching that family on Sundays … I keep your dear family in my prayers that somehow you all will find peace and comfort.”
Another visitor to the Rasmussen website, Heather Tomlin, wrote, “I am so very sorry. Shauna was always a ray of sunshine in my day at work. She is a true example of friendship and kindness. She leaves a great legacy to be proud of.”
A crowdfunding webpage to help defray the costs of medical bills for Josclynn and her injured siblings has been set up. Although the stated goal of raising $10,000 for Derryk Allen and his family has already been met, donations can still be made at https://www.youcaring.com/derrykallen-886318.
