Friends of a Lakeland woman believed to have been killed by her estranged husband before he took his own life say they were shocked to hear of the couple's deaths.

LAKELAND — Friends of a Lakeland woman believed to have been killed by her estranged husband before he took his own life say they were shocked to hear of the couple’s deaths.

The Lakeland Police Department has not released the names of the man and woman who died Wednesday afternoon, but friends have identified them as Mark and Heather Waggoner.

Friend Lindsey Blando said they were “great people."

“This is shocking,” she said. “They loved life and were fun to be around.”

Mark and Heather Waggoner, whom police described as a married couple who were separated and going through divorce proceedings, were “great people,” according to friend, Lindsey Blando.

Lakeland Police Assistant Chief Rick Taylor said during a press conference Wednesday the man shot to death his estranged wife at Willowbrooke Apartments in Lakeland, then drove to his separate residence, in the county, and died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his backyard.

Blando, who said she had not seen the couple in a while, said there were “no clues” that such a tragedy would happen.

She said she would have “helped any way I could if one of them would have reached out,” adding “they will be missed.”

Both Mark Waggoner, 50, and Heather Waggoner, 41, worked for Geico, Blando said, and Heather Waggoner worked from home.

Blando said her favorite memory was going on vacation to Mexico with the couple a few years ago, and “just hanging out in the pool, going to shows.”

She said they were “great company” and a “joy to be around.”

Jackie Johnson, a close friend, said Heather Waggoner’s greatest love in life was her 21-year-old daughter, Courtney Jenkins.

“Her daughter was everything to her, and all she did in life was for her,” she said.

“Heather was a beautiful, sweet soul to all she encountered. She was a daddy’s girl with a Georgia southern accent who loved life and brought light and laughter to all she encountered,” Johnson said.

“Her family was her heart, and she would drop everything to help anyone in their time of need,” Johnson continued. “Heather made people's heart smile. She never judged and was always herself in all that she did.”

Heather Waggoner’s side passion was photography, she said.

“She loved capturing the best moments of people’s lives for them through her camera lens, and her talent was incredible,” Johnson said.

Heather Waggoner also fought multiple sclerosis, she added.

“And doing it like a warrior. I love her to pieces and will never forget what an amazing woman she was,” said Johnson.

Geico coworkers mourned on social media as the news traveled throughout the company.

Misty Thomas Moody, who worked with and knew the couple for years, told The Ledger, “The entire Geico community is hurting today.”

Two years before their deaths, a Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to a Lakeland address where Mark and Heather Waggoner were living after Heather Waggoner called the PCSO to report her husband might try to harm himself, according to an information report filed in connection to the March 16, 2018, incident.

Mark Waggoner had sent text messages to her and other family members to say that he loved them, but was “tired of everything.”

Mark Waggoner never said he was going to hurt himself, Heather told deputies, but said she felt he was implying he would.

When deputies investigated the bottle of pills Mark had taken around 9 a.m. that day, they reported Mark took them for sleeping. Deputies also read the texts between Heather and Mark and noted that none of the texts indicated he was going to harm himself, according to the information report.

The deputy noted in that report, “Mark and Heather are currently going through a rough transition period in their marriage.”

Deputies, who did not speak to Mark during that call for service, said they were unable to determine Mark to be unstable and suicidal at that time, and did not have enough information to be able to hold him under the Baker Act.

The sheriff’s office confirmed that in their records there were no reports of domestic violence, stalking or harassment regarding Mark and Heather Waggoner.

Kathy Leigh Berkowitz can be reached at kberkowitz@theledger.com or at 863-802-7558. Follow her on Twitter @kberkowitzthel1.