Grace B. Brown 1921 ~ 2005 St. George, Ut - Vivienne Grace Bowns Brown died in St. George on August 2, 2005, from natural causes, at the age of 84.
Grace was born Castle Gate, Utah, March 6, 1921, the daughter of William James Bowns and Mette Marie Peterson Bowns. She spent her early years in Castle Gate where she learned to play the piano and started her life-long church music career by accompanying the Primary at age ten. Her family moved to Santa Barbara, California, in 1936 and to Glendale, California in 1937 where she graduated from Glendale High School. After attending Glendale Community College for two years, Grace enrolled at the LDS Hospital School of Nursing, from which she graduated in 1943 as a Registered Nurse. She used her nursing training as an office nurse to a pediatrician and as member of the nursing staff at several hospitals in California and Utah. Her friends and relatives often called on her knowledge and research skills for information about symptoms and medications.
Grace married Charles Manley Brown, the son of Hugh B. Brown and Zina Young Card Brown, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on February 7, 1944 and moved with him to Jackson Heights, New York, where he was copilot with American Airlines. They moved to Glendale at the end of WWII so he could continue his college education.
They subsequently lived in Salt Lake City, Glendale, California, Wiesbaden, Germany for two years in the 60's, and finally retired in St. George in 1985. Grace studied piano under several teachers, including a concert pianist in Germany, and continued when she returned to the United States. She studied organ at the University of Southern California and Brigham Young University. She passed the tenth level of hymn certification and the highest level of organ proficiency offered at Brigham Young University. She graduated from Brigham Young University at the age of 57 and played the organ at her graduation. She was a member of the American Guild of Organist (AGO) from which she earned recognition as a Colleague.
In 1995-96 she was the Dean of the Southern Utah Chapter of the AGO, which organization she served in other capacities for several years. Grace was a church musician for more that seventy years, serving as organist, chorister, and music chairman at both the ward and stake levels. She also gave many free organ and piano lessons to aspiring church pianists and organists. Her additional church service included" Ward Relief Society President; Relief Society teacher; Branch YWMIA president in Germany; and as a worker in the St. George LDS Temple. Since moving to St. George in 1985 Grace has presented many well-received programs in the St. George Tabernacle, as well as similar programs at Church, elsewhere in the community, and in her home. She served the community as a Board Member of the Southwest Symphony, in which capacity she chaired the Governor's Ball in 1989, and as a volunteer at the Dixie Care and Share.
Grace very ably assisted her grateful husband in his professional, church, and community callings. One son and one daughter survive her: Hugh Bowns Brown (Marilyn), Chester, Montana, Vivienne Mary Brown Sullivan (Bruce), Sandy, Utah, 28 grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren. She also is survived by on brother, George Marion Bowns, daughters-in-law Diann M. Brown of Moore, Oklahoma, and Sharon H. Brown, of Zellwood, Florida, and son-in-law Forrest King (Marsha) of Vienna, Virginia. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Zina Lucile Brown King, her son, Charles M. Brown, Jr., her son William James Brown, and her four brothers, James, William, Harold, and John Bowns.
The family wishes to express their appreciation to the IHC Hospice professionals, especially Carolyn Duggins, RN, Helen Cardova, and Jan McKay, as well as to Ronda Bartholomew and Shea Peterson, CNA's, for their devoted care during her final months, and to the wonderful caregivers at Kolob Care Center. Thanks also due to Marilyn Brown, daughter-in-law, for caring for Grace during the month of June while Charles was recovering from surgery. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, August 9, 2005, at 11 a.m., at the Bloomington Hills LDS 4th Ward Chapel, 750 E. Ft. Pierce Dr. Visitations will be held Monday, August 8, from 6-8 p.m., at Metcalf Mortuary, 288 W. St. George Blvd., and Tuesday, August 9, from 9:30-10:30 a.m., prior to services at the chapel. Interment will be in the St. George City Cemetery under the direction of Metcalf Mortuary 435-673-4221. Condolences may be sent to the family through our website at www.metcalfmortuary.com