Rochelle "Chelley" Wallack

Rochelle “Chelley” was born on September 16, 1941, in Wichita, Kansas to Josephine & Ralph Hurlbutt. In 1954, her family moved from Shreveport, Louisiana to Tulsa, Oklahoma, which Chelley called home for the next 72 years.

Chelley graduated from Tulsa Central High School with the Class of 1959. Upon graduation she attended Oklahoma State University (Go Pokes) becoming a member of the Oklahoma Beta Chapter of Pi Beta Phi. She then attended and graduated from Katharine Gibbs a prestigious business career school for women in New York City. Through a chance encounter Chelley met her future husband, Bob Wallack. She and Bob spent 39 wonderful years together before his death in 2019 raising her son John Benson Garner and being a bonus mom to Bob’s daughters Tracey & Kelly. Her professional life included work as an International Transportation Coordinator for Dresser-Rand and as office manager for Asphalt Fuel and Supply in Tulsa. She also worked at Williams-Sonoma during the holidays to support her love of entertaining. The 3rd floor of the Wallack’s home was home to the “Geebers”, Mark, Al, Shelby, Rich and the crew referred to Chelley as “Momma Bear”. Up until Chelley’s passing the “Geebers” frequently visited and celebrated John’s heavenly birthday together each year which held a special place in Chelley’s heart.

Chelley’s first love was cooking and entertaining whether it was her dinner group, family gatherings, organizing a Crawfish boil for the 100’s at work, or making her holiday strawberry jam and chocolate roll she was at home in the kitchen. She also looked forward to her travels with “The Gathered”, a group of women from Central High School that gathered yearly travelling East to West coast including a trip to Jamaica. Chelley gave generously of her time to her community. She volunteered with the Junior League of Tulsa and NatureWorks Art Show & Sale, where she served on the board in various capacities. She was also a member of the Altar Guild at St. John’s Episcopal Church. Chelley will be remembered for her dedication to her community and the many organizations she supported.

Chelley is survived by her brothers Ralph Hurlbutt and wife Louise of Kennebunk, Maine; Raymond “Cap” Hurlbutt and wife Sandy of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; and William “Bill” Hurlbutt and wife Christie of Tigard, Oregon. Bonus daughters Tracey Dean of Pryor, Oklahoma; Kelly Brixey and husband Sam of Chandler Oklahoma, Grandchildren Paul & Leanna Brixey and David Brixey and Laura Webb; great-grandchildren, Landon, Bryson, Madeline and Easton; Nephews Benson Hurlbutt and Tyler Hurlbutt; Nieces Carry Montgomery, Maggie Tyron, Genevieve Tarnow; Great-nephew Patterson Tarnow and Great-niece Emma Hurlbutt.

She is proceeded in death by her parents Josephine & Ralph Hurlbutt, husband Robert David Wallack; sons John Benson Garner and Christopher Claiborne Garner; daughter Julia Rochelle Garner and son-in-law Gary J. Dean and beloved Buffy & Mr. Binx.

Memorial services will be held at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 4100 S. Atlanta Place, Tulsa, at 11:00 am Saturday October 31, 2026. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to NatureWorks at PO Box 52551, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 74152-0551.