BREAKING NEWS: Two Killed Missionaries Buried In Yemen

impoverished Arab state on Tuesday, December 31, in accordance with their wills, Yemeni officials said. A third victim was also expected to be buried in Yemen, according to reports.

Martha Myers, 57, a physician from Montgomery, Alabama, and William Koehn, 60, of Arlington, Texas, an administrator, were buried in the southern town of Jibla where they were killed with a third colleague on Monday, December 30, by a lone gunmen, the Reuters news agency reported.

The shooting ended decades of missionary service for Myers, who was the Southern Baptist Representative to Northern Africa and Middle East since 1977.

Her prior experience was Foreign Mission Board medical receptor in Yemen and an intern and resident at the University of South Alabama Medical Center, Mobile, and as a physician for the Cardiovascular Associates in Mobile, her organization said.

Born in 1945 in Jefferson County, Ala. she received the bachelor of arts degree from Samford University, Birmingham, Ala., and the doctor of medicine degree from the Medical College of Alabama, University of Alabama, Birmingham. She also attended Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Mo.

KOEHN WITH HER

Buried with her was Koehn, the Southern Baptist Representative to Northern Africa and Middle East since 1974 and hospital administrator, who looked forward to his retirement to do what he already did for many young patients: making wooden toys.

Before moving to the mission field, Koehn had work as an Allied Supermarkets store manager in Hays, Kan. and previously been an assistant manager for the same firm in Liberal and Hays, Kan, the Southern Baptist International Mission Board said.

He was born in 1942, in Cimarron, Kan and received the bachelor of science degree in business from Fort Hays Kansas State College, Hays, Kan and attended the University of Kansas at Lawrence and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Kansas City, Mo.

WIFE AND CHILDREN

Koehn leaves behind his wife Marty Walker of Kansas City, Kan and grown children Janelda Ann and Samantha Michelle. Their killed colleague.

The Reuters news agency quoted unidentified officials as saying that the third victim, 53-year-old Kathleen Gariety, a purchasing agent from Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, had also asked in her will to be buried in Yemen.

Talks were said to be under way over her burial between family and the U.S. Embassy. Gariety was the Southern Baptist Representative to Northern Africa and the Middle East since 1992.

SUPPLY MANAGER

Before she arrived in Yemen to work as supply manager at the Hospital, she was manager of Follett College Bookstore in Milwaukee, Wis., and area manager with College Bookstores of America in Hinsdale, Ill. Clerk with Lakeland Baptist Association in Milwaukee, Wis., l991-92.

Born in 1949, in Milwaukee, Wis. she received the bachelor of fine arts degree from the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee and attended Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky., and Mount Mary College, in Wauwatosa, Wis.

An American pharmacist Don Caswell, was wounded, but is recovering from surgery, Baptist officials said. Police said 30-year-old Abed Abdel Razzak Kamel, who allegedly carried out the shootings, had told them attacked the Christian outpost "to get closer to God".

ISLAH PARTY

Yemeni officials said the gunman belonged to the Islamic opposition Islah Party.

He smuggled a rifle into the hospital concealed in his clothing and "cradling it like a baby," the Southern Baptist International Mission Board and other sources said.

The Americans were reportedly meeting at the start of the working day when he burst into the room and shot them.

On Monday the United States vowed to hunt down "any and all" of those responsible for the murder of three American missionaries and Washington asked Yemeni authorities to provide more protection for US citizens.

MISSION CONTINUES

Despite the loss of its staff members, Southern Baptist International Mission Board President Jerry Rankin said the ministry in Yemen and other dangerous places will continue.

"For 35 years we have operated a hospital in Yemen in the town of Jibla. Serving 40,000 patients a year, the hospital has been an expression of love and concern to the people of Yemen," he told reporters Monday, December 30.

"Our personnel, as Americans and Christians, are well aware of the risk of living and serving in a place like Yemen. Yet their love for the Yemeni people and obedience to the conviction of God’s leadership has been expressed in a willingness to take that risk and give of their lives," he added.

With 5,487 missionaries working among 1,497 people groups worldwide, The Southern Baptist International Mission Board is said to be one of the largest evangelical mission organizations.