Charles B. Boone, who co-owned the natural supplement and herb shop Nature’s Garden with his wife for the last two decades, died Thursday at 77.
Boone dedicated his life to helping other people and always continued to research new methods of treating various illnesses and ailments. He held degrees in reflexology, essential oils, herbology, and holographic health.
“He’s made a change in people’s lives,” said his wife Pauline. “He was adamant about learning the body. He was just a brilliant man.”
The Boones got involved with herbal remedies a little more than 20 years ago when their oldest son Charles “Scott” Boone was 17. Scott had a kidney disease and doctors gave him a grim outlook.
“They told us to take him home and make him comfortable at 17 because he would probably be gone pretty soon,” Pauline said. “That is why we started researching and learning and doing.”
According to Scott, his dad came across a book with an old herbal recipe.
“It worked, and it kind of got him hooked on different things as far as trying to help people using some of the old remedies of the past,” he said.
Scott recently retired after more than 23 years of military service, proof that the holistic approach can work for some people.
Charles pressed on, finding a passion for helping others the same way he helped his son.
“People would come in and tell him their story, and he would just start researching what they had and what herbs could help,” Scott said. “I think he just liked helping people. He took it on as a personal challenge to help people get out of pain.”
Boone’s physician Dr. Jennifer Martin said Charles was a man who let his faith guide him, and he always strove to make a positive impact on others’ lives.
“He was a good Christian man and he enjoyed taking care of people through his business,” Martin said. “He took pride in his work. He was a joy to have as a patient. He’s going to be missed. I think he was pretty much a joy to everybody that met him. He was always happy. He was always optimistic.”
Boone was a member of the General Baptist Church. At one time, he sang in the gospel group, The Gospel Miracles. He worked for 13 years at Clark Restaurant Service before becoming the owner and operator of Charles Boone Lawn Service for more than 20 years. He joined his wife in 2000 by opening Nature’s Garden.
In addition to Pauline and Scott, Charles is survived by his other children Jonathan D. Boone and Melissa Mattingly, as well as 11 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, three brothers and a sister.
