Rochelle Lauderdale

She was born March 22, 1937, in Antioch, Oklahoma, the oldest of three children of Helen Roberta Haney Guthrie and William C. Guthrie. Soon after she was born, the family moved to Oklahoma City, where Rochelle attended first grade before moving to the country near Antioch. She attended school in Maysville, Oklahoma, for the remainder of her school years. Although she grew up on a farm, Rochelle often spoke fondly of her early years in Oklahoma City. At heart, she was always more of a city girl. She was a majorette in the band.

Rochelle met Edward Lauderdale in high school and began dating him when she was sixteen. They continued dating through high school and college and married during her senior year at the University of Oklahoma, where she earned a teaching degree.

After dedicating herself to raising their two daughters, Lisa and Tara, Rochelle began selling real estate in the 1970s. In the 1980s, she joined Ed at Challenger Freight Systems, a freight forwarding company he founded, where she handled human resources, payroll and accounting. She was the backbone of the company. They sold the business in 2005 and retired together.

Rochelle had impeccable style and a beautiful smile. Smart and quick-witted, she had an easy ability to connect with people and make friends.

Her family knew her as a wonderful listener whose love was unconditional. Her grandchildren often called to run things by her because they knew they could talk to her about anything. She listened, supported them and was always in their corner.

Rochelle was a devoted wife. She and Ed genuinely enjoyed each other’s company and loved traveling together, especially cruises and trips throughout the United States. When Ed developed dementia and moved into residential care, Rochelle became deeply involved in his care and spent many afternoons by his side. She remained a faithful and loving wife until his death on November 30, 2017. In later years, Rochelle and Lisa took an annual girls trip together, and she also enjoyed traveling with Tara and her family.

Rochelle’s Christian faith was quiet, personal and steadfast. A longtime member of Lamar Baptist Church, she attended faithfully until her health no longer allowed it. Before she died, Rochelle said she was ready to go to Heaven, to be with Jesus and reunited with Ed and her parents.

Rochelle is survived by her daughters, Lisa Lauderdale Otts (Randy) and Tara Lauderdale Cantrell (Randy); her grandchildren, Candace Emerson (Wayne), Whitney Otts, Corey Cantrell, Cody Otts (partner Kayla) and Cade Cantrell; her great-grandchildren, Everette Emerson, Parker Otts-Dunson and Cecilia Emerson; her sister, Charlotte Young; and her sister-in-law, Carolyn Guthrie.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Lauderdale; her parents, Helen Roberta Haney Guthrie and William C. Guthrie; her brother, William Gerald Guthrie; and her brother-in-law, Harold Young.

Rochelle leaves behind a family shaped by the things she valued most: faith, hard work, determination, respect for others and, above all, devotion to family.