August 14, 2008
Florida Baptist Witness

Missionary dies in Moscow home
Published August 14, 2008

TARLETON, Teri

RICHMOND, Va. (BP)?Co-workers described International Mission Board missionary Teri Tarleton, who died July 28 in Russia, as a devoted mother and wife with a love for music and ministry among the children of missionaries in Russia.

Tarleton, 49, died July 28from pulmonary embolism in both lungs in her home in Moscow. She was waiting a scheduled heart test.

Since 1994 the Tarleton family has called Moscow home. They were among the first families to accept God's calling to share the Gospel in the former Soviet Union. 

The IMB appointed Teri and her husband Ed to the mission field nearly 15 years ago.

While her primary ministry involved her family and church, she also ministered to missionary kids (MKs) in Russia as an education consultant.

?Teri had an incredible love for missionary kids and repeatedly touched the [lives of MKs in Russia] in phenomenal ways,? said Robin Covington, a longtime friend and missionary colleague.

Teri?s main desire for our Russian field was twofold,? said Buck Burch, another colleague. ?[She had] a burning desire to see the lost come to Christ and an unwavering belief in the witness of a godly family.

?To Teri, we weren?t just missionaries; we were a missionary family.?

An accomplished bassoon player, Tarleton was born in Phoenixville, Pa., considered Deerfield Beach her hometown, and graduated from Oklahoma Baptist University with a music degree.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by a son, Adam, 21; daughters, Anna, 19, and twins, Rachel and Rebecca, 17; and her parents, Russell and Betty Halliger of Park Hill, Okla.

The funeral was held Aug. 5, 2008, at First Baptist Church in Nicoma Park, Okla.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent in honor of Teri Tarleton to the International Mission Board for the ongoing task of missions work around the world. Send donations to International Mission Board, Teri Tarleton memorial donation, PO Box 6767, Richmond, VA 23230-0767.

Teri Tarleton was interred at Memory Lane Cemetery, Harrah, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma.

Photo edited courtesy of  Zoey Fryhover, August 2008.