Cheryl, of Cheryl’s Herbs, has died; memorial to be at shop

Cheryl’s Herbs Twitter feed (@CherylsHerbs) announced Tuesday that Cheryl Hoard, owner of Cheryl’s Herbs, died Sunday morning.

“It is with great sadness we share the news of the passing on Sunday morning of our founder and leader, Cheryl Hoard. She was our wife, our sister, our mother, our teacher, our mentor, our friend and counselor, our daily inspiration for so many years.

Honoring her wishes, we will hold a memorial celebration at Cheryl’s Herbs ( 7170A Manchester Road) on June 21 from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. All expressions of celebration of Cheryl’s life will be honored. All are welcome to attend.”

On a post in March 2014 by the Maplewood Chamber of Commerce on Cheryl, in 40 South News, in Cheryl’s own words:

Accomplishments: Beginning in 1980, I spent 11 years as Principal French Horn of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. Besides playing daily with the orchestra, that meant frequently soloing with the orchestra, teaching horn at all the major Hong Kong Universities, performing chamber and solo recitals and recording extensively with the orchestra as well as for movies, TV, and popular Chinese recording artists. I have had the privilege of being an extra horn player with the St. Louis Symphony for the past 20 years and still extensively freelance in the St. Louis area.

I also traveled throughout Asia and observed first-hand the Asian herbal way of life. I had long practiced an herbal way of life. It was this life-long fascination with herbs which led my husband and me to open our first Cheryl’s Herbs in Hong Kong in 1991. Later that year we moved the business to St. Louis and in 2004 we opened in Maplewood.

In addition to being an herbalist and registered aromatherapist, I have twice been president of the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy. I was a contributing author for Llewellyn’s 2009 Herbal Almanac, aromatherapy consultant for Time Life Books, lecturer for Washington University Medical School, St. Louis University Medical School, St. Louis College of Pharmacy, St. Louis University School of Social Work, St. Louis Community College, Meramec and Missouri Botanical Garden.