Ricky D. Boone, age 63, magician and motivational speaker, went home to be with his Lord and Savior, June 18th at Mission Hospital. He was the son of the late Dwight Willie Boone, Sr. and Essie L. Hensley Boone. He was also preceded in death by a brother-in-law, Johnnie Nelson Faircloth, Jr. Ricky was the first homebound student in Yancey County due to his disabilities. He and his family relocated to Woodfin in 1972 and then Ricky attended Thom’s Rehabilitation School. Once he graduated at Thom’s Rehabilitation, he then attended Cecil’s College where he received a marketing and accounting degree. Ricky then went to work for Cable Electric as a office manager. He had many hobbies to include photography but magic was his true love. Later in life, he was owner and operator of Magic Central and Founder of the Vanishing Wheelchair Non-Proffitt. Ricky won many awards to include the International Brotherhood of Magicians Presidential Award, the Southeastern Association of Magicians Lifetime Achievement Award and the 2007 Southeastern Regional Emmy Award that was given by Leighton Grant and Larry Blunt with WLOS News TV.
Surviving are his sisters: Jearline Hensley and husband, Donald, Wanda Hughes and husband, Edward, all of Burnsville and Loretta Faircloth and friend, Marc, of Asheville; brother: Dwight W. Boone, Jr. and wife, Debbie, of Burnsville; nieces and nephews: Shannon, Daphne, Natalie, Hannah, Brian, DW, Tara, Tegan, Eli, Easton, Greyson and Ragan and special friend, Dottie. His white dove, Babe and many loving caregivers also survive.
Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 24th in the Chapel of Yancey Funeral Services. Rev. Dick Westbrook, Rev. Buddy Corbin and Rev. Terry Hollifield will officiate. Burial will follow in the Boone Cemetery on Plum Branch. The family will receive friends from 1 until 3 p.m. prior to the services at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Vanishing Wheel Chair, Inc at 175 Weaverville Road Suite H, Asheville, NC 28804 or on their website at www.vanishingwheelchair.org. The family would like to thank the many caregivers he had in his life for the wonderful care given to Ricky.
