Yvonne Madeline Cilliers Johnson, 88, passed away on Tuesday May 19, 2015 at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City, Michigan.

Yvonne was born in Detroit, Michigan on August 28, 1926, the only child of Dr. Jean Huguenot Cilliers and Leila Lenore (Winter) Cilliers. Her dentist father was an émigré of South Africa and her mother was born in Ontario, Canada. She graduated from South High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1944 and from Michigan State University in 1948.

After graduation, Yvonne taught Elementary school in Grand Rapids, and through a blind date, met Owen William Johnson. They married June 14, 1952 holding their reception in her mother's beloved rose garden.

In 1961, Yvonne and Owen moved with their three children to Traverse City. With her own kids in school, Yvonne resumed her passion for teaching working in the Nursery school at Traverse City Congregational Church. As a mother, Yvonne actively participated in her children's lives, as a Cub Scout Den Mother and a Girl Scout leader. With her husband, she belonged to numerous community organizations and was a dedicated member of Grace Episcopal Church. She was a devoted friend, maintaining close relationships with many people from childhood and college. She was like a second mother to many of her children's friends and was a devoted aunt, grandmother and great grandmother.

When her husband passed away in 1978, Yvonne gathered her abundant strength and courage and learned a new career, taking over her husband's duties as the court appointed Guardian for Grand Traverse County Probate Court. Although she retired from that position many years ago, she is still remembered fondly and with great respect by those she worked with in the court system, administrative and medical communities of this area.

Always an active and social person, Yvonne was interested in many things. She was an avid golfer, gardener and hobbyist. She loved to sew and was an accomplished needle worker. Yvonne was an avid reader and had a passion for staying informed on news and current events. She was a progressive thinker with an open and curious mind and was always ready to learn something new.

Yvonne's greatest strength came from her family, friends, and church. She was a proud member of Grace Episcopal Church and contributed tirelessly over the years to help it grow. She had a wide circle of devoted friends that continued to grow up to her last days. But it was her family that gave her the most joy. Her eldest son, Eric William, his wife Debra (Cross), their sons Bret Owen and Ross James, Bret's wife Angela (Sonntag) and their 9-month son Owen Anthony – Yvonne's first great grandchild. Her second son, Timothy Owen, who sadly passed away in 2012 and his daughter, Riley Anne. And her youngest, her daughter Karen Lenore. She was also very close to her married family, maintaining strong relationships with her sister-in-law Holley (Johnson) Hobbs, her husband Max Hobbs, her brother-in-law Marvin Johnson and his wife Francis (Wooten) Johnson and her nephews Steven Johnson, Daniel Johnson, John Hobbs and Thomas Hobbs and their families.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, May 26, 2015 at Grace Episcopal Church in Traverse City at 11am with a visitation beginning at 10am. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Grace Episcopal Church Building Fund, 314 Washington St., Traverse City, MI 49684.

The family is being served by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home. Kindly share your thoughts and memories with Yvonne's family by way of her online guestbook at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com