Sierra Clayborn's friends say she stood out as someone who always had an encouraging word.
Timothy J. Lee remembers meeting Clayborn, 27, in a hip-hop class at the University of California, Riverside. She was active and outgoing, praising classmates when they mastered a routine.
"She always had something encouraging to say," Lee said.
Clayborn's stepfather Cary Eaton remembered Clayborn's spirit.
"She was the best girl a dad could have. She made me feel so special just being around her and everything. I really will miss her so much. Sierra was a great girl," he said.
After graduating in 2010, Clayborn worked jobs in retail and at a bank before landing a position at the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health. Like a number of other victims, she inspected restaurants.
Matthew Peairs, 27, a manager at Red Baron Pizza in Big Bear Lake, California, said Clayborn visited the restaurant a day before the shooting to complete an inspection.
"She was one of the nicest health inspectors that we've ever had," he said. "She talked to us like normal people, not just doing her job."
He said they discussed their holiday plans and she mentioned she was going to the department's Christmas party Wednesday.
"She was stoked about the party," Peairs said.
Word spread Wednesday among Clayborn's friends that she was missing. FBI agents later visited her family's house to tell them that she was killed in the attack.
Eaton said he didn't think Sierra would want her family to hold on to anger.
"I don't want to use energy and create additional negative energy. I want for us to come together. We have to be close together and take care of each other. That's what Sierra would want," Eaton said.
"It's definitely going to be different without her," Lee said.
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Beverly White and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
