---- — TRAVERSE CITY — Yola Ann Monroe, 84, passed away on her terms peacefully letting go at the Munson Hospice House on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011.She was a native of Michigan, a longtime resident of Traverse City, and the sort of person who anyone would have been proud to call "neighbor," "friend" or "mother."Born in the Highland Park area of Detroit on Jan. 3, 1927, Yola lived a life filled with adventures, motivated by a curiosity about the world. Well-educated and traveled, artistic, a phenomenal chef (Julia Child would have been impressed), she imparted this innate curiosity onto her two children, Mindy Morton and Matthew G. Monroe. She was also a loving stepmother to four children, Blake, Ford, Kitty and Susan Monroe.Childhood summers spent on Torch Lake nurtured her artistic talents, leading her to attend the Ringling School of Art in Sarasota, Fla., where she was noted for her skills in painting, especially watercolors. Yola taught the importance of the arts to others and how they influenced the soul. Throughout her life she continued to paint, and she was also well known as a voracious reader, often consuming two or three books at a time. Never one afraid to be herself, she will be remembered as a fighter and strong-willed woman, surviving cancer multiple times, and for her independence.Adventures? She had a few. Travels throughout Great Britain ... sailing vacations around the Caribbean ... and a stretch limo ride to and from Michael Jackson's "Victory" tour.Two husbands preceded her in death: Joseph Bruce Morton III and James Ford Monroe II — she had a thing for guys with Roman numerals after their last names. She also liked the initials "J.M."A celebration of Yola's life will take place next summer. In her memory and zest for life think of her and raise a glass, remembering a 2:30 p.m. martini never hurt.Memorial contributions may be sent to Munson Hospice House or the Cherryland Humane Society.The family is being served by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services, www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com .