Charles Manley Brown was born in Canada in 1921. He received his early education in Salt Lake City and secondary education in London, England.

He married Vivienne Grace Bowns in the Salt lake Temple in 1944, and after four years as a co-pilot with American Airlines, earned degrees from Glendale California Community College, the University of Utah, and the University of Southern California, where for thirty years he was a Professor of Education.

Upon his retirement in 1985, he and his wife moved to St. George, Utah, where he has served as Board Member of he Southwest Symphony, President of the Southwest Guild for the Performing Arts, Board Member of the Celebrity Concert Series, Secretary of the Bloomington Hills Home Owners Association, and as a volunteer at Dixie Care and Share. His wife, Grace, a talented organist, accompanist and organizer, has been just as active as Charles in both community and Church.

The Browns are the parents of five children with 28 grandchildren and 27 (and counting) great-grandchildren.