Pauls Valley, Oklahoma —
During the hardest times of one’s life it is always easier to overcome those difficult moments when there is someone to help along the way.
For more than just a few residents in Pauls Valley, that person has been Susanne Blake. Since she moved back to her birthplace in 1995, she has become one of many helping hands and cheerleaders for the Garvin County seat.
“I like to call myself the unofficial Ambassador of Pauls Valley,” said Blake, who did not grow up in PV, but would visit family here growing up. “I love Pauls Valley and I love the people in it.”
Blake started her quest to help people nearby after she earned an MBA at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales with the first of several community benefiting grants. She attributes being able to successfully help as many people as she has due to a use what you have where you are attitude.
“I happen to believe that you can bloom wherever you are,” said Blake, who moved back to PV after marrying her husband, John, a local judge. “I think you can live wherever you are and draw what you want to you.”
It was in Portales that Blake’s grant writing skills helped bring about renovation of a structure there for a mental health facility and was a launching pad for the fruit she would bear in Oklahoma. Some of the benefits that have come to the area is writing grants for projects like streetscape and bringing activity back to the train depot area.
Over the years Blake has also used her words to aide others through seminars and acting as keynote speaker for events along the lines of a healthy women annual banquet. She helps people in a way that gets them to lighten up and laugh so they can look at things in a positive light again.
Though there has been no shortage of gratitude from other leaders within the community, those who appreciate Blake’s generosity the most have been those assisted on a individual basis. Through being there for those struggling during difficult family situations to offering a way to change several women’s life for the better career-wise like the Philanthropical Educational Organization, she has been there to see people through to better times.
Blake is also an accomplished author with a book she self published, “When the Spirit Speaks” and a publisher requested book, “Ten Commitments for Women.” She has already sold several thousand copies, though is to the point she’d give copies away if shipping is taken care of.
One of the more recent honors Blake noted that she’s been a part of is hosting an unofficial headquarters for the recently filmed movie, “Noodling.” Rebecca Eskreis, a graduate student at the University of Southern California that is in charge of the film, filmed part of the movie on Blake’s porch and in a couple of other houses in the same neighborhood.
“I just think there’s so much going on and if you sit there long enough you draw people to you,” said Blake. “We got to see a movie made right in front of our eyes.”
When Blake has the time, she also participates in organizations like the Rotary Club, the Chamber of Commerce and the Historical Society. The Historical Society was one of the organizations that convinced Amtrak to start passenger services back in the area and put in place what is now the train depot. She is also President of the State of Oklahoma Judicial Auxiliary.
Blake said that none of what she’s accomplished would be possible if she had not taken time to help herself and work through her own problems. She said her life experiences like going through a previous marriage that did not work out taught her how to give advice and only when it is needed.
“I think what a good neighbor does is respond to needs of people when they are asked to do something... I try not to give advice unless it is asked for because it is only good when it is asked for,” said Blake. “If you concentrate on being open to new opportunities and new ideas it goes back to that old statement, ‘That you think about, you talk about what you think and talk about, you bring about.’”
Arts & History
Related Photos
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Susanne Blake, Pauls Valley resident and enthusiast, takes time to show where most of the work she does to help the community happens these days. Her work over the years has included grant writer, speaker and friend to several in need. For her involvement she is this week’s Noteworthy Neighbor. Ezra Mann
Discussion
PV a good will mission for resident
Noteworthy Neighbor
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