Steven Murray

In Loving Memory of Steven Leon Murray
July 22, 1971 – August 4, 2026

With profound sadness, we remember and celebrate the life of Steven Leon Murray, who blessed this world with his presence from July 22, 1971, until August 4, 2026.

Steven lived a life defined by humility, resilience and an undeniable devotion to his immediate and extended family. He loved deeply, gave quietly and lived fully.

Although Steven was born in Toronto, some of his most cherished childhood years were spent in St. Lucia. It was there that he discovered early that life was meant to be an adventure. He embraced his youth, surrounded by nature, experiencing life with curiosity and enthusiasm. Steven played hard and laughed even harder. There was something infectious about him. People were drawn to his warmth, his humour and his energy, and those who met him rarely forgot him.

His childhood in St. Lucia also gave Steven lifelong friendships. Aninsley, Ian, Troy and Kerwin were far more than childhood friends. They were his brothers. Time and distance never diminished that bond, and the families remained connected over the years.

In 1983, Steven returned to Canada, where he enrolled in high school, and before long, that infectious Steven energy began to spread once again. He developed a deep love for music and, just as importantly, for people.

Through musical groups including Red Flame, TKO, Synpa Sounds and others, Steven touched the lives of thousands. Later known as DJ Steve Knight, he became a respected and influential presence within Toronto’s dancehall, reggae and sound clash communities, with a network and influence that extended far beyond Canada. Music was never simply entertainment for Steven. It was connection, culture and community. He used his influence to encourage young people to stay out of trouble, believe in themselves and follow their passions.

Steven believed that love was best demonstrated through action. He cared deeply for his family and made a deliberate effort to remain connected to everyone. He called. He listened. He helped. He remembered. He positioned himself in such a way that, when someone needed him, somehow Steven was there.

His quiet acts of kindness often came unexpectedly. You never quite knew what Steven might do for you, only that somehow, he had been paying attention. He was often the first to call on birthdays and holidays and seldom forgot the moments that mattered to the people he loved. To know Steven was to have the quiet confidence of knowing someone was in your corner. His presence gave those who loved him a comforting sense of safety.

Perhaps the greatest part of Steven’s life was his devotion to his family.

He was a kind and gentle son to his parents, Leona and Stevenson, and his bonus mom, Orma; a constant source of joy, mischief, laughter, and amusement to his siblings, Janine, Maureen and Justin; a loving husband to his wife, Lorraine; and a devoted father.

At the heart of Steven’s adult life was the family he built with Lorraine. They were true partners, devoted to one another and deeply committed to creating a loving, stable and nurturing home for their family. Together, Steven and Lorraine worked hard to give their children the very best. Their greatest wealth was not measured in possessions, but in the love, support and strong family foundation they created.
Steven embraced fatherhood wholeheartedly. He was an incredibly present and hands on father who took great pride in caring for his children and being part of their everyday lives. Destiny, TJ, and Shiloh were deeply loved by Steven, and he embraced each of them completely. He took TJ and Shiloh to and from school and their extracurricular activities, cooked for them, planned family time and made sure that home was filled with love, laughter and security.

Steven gave his children his time, his attention, his protection and his love. He exposed them to travel, culture, music, the arts and new experiences, but perhaps his greatest gift was simply his presence. They knew their father was there for them.

That was how Steven loved: not only through words, but through the countless things he did every day.
He shared an especially close bond with his niece Nyeisha, his muse and longtime partner in crime. His beloved Aunty Yolande was a tremendous source of love and support throughout his life, while his cousins Sharon and Sabrina were, in every sense that mattered, his sisters and fellow partners in crime also.

He brought joy to his late Uncle Eddie and Aunty Violet, and deeply loved his cousins Lee, Eva, Evan, Nicola, Nina, Jesse, Brianna, Brittney, Joshua, Ashelle, Arron, Shamar, Jacob and Keirah. Family was never simply a word to Steven. If you were his family and you needed him, he would do whatever he could to be there.

As Steven grew older, his hunger for life and adventure never faded. He remained constantly on the move, especially with his family, discovering new places, experiencing different cultures and creating memories wherever he went. He seemed determined to experience as much of the world as the world was willing to give him.

Steven truly loved life. And life, in so many ways, loved him back. He decided to chronical life by learning how to create memories through photography and videography. He became an expert and also began to help individuals and families capture their memories through his work.

We will miss him more deeply than words can express. But even through our sorrow, Steven leaves us something precious: memories filled with music, adventure, laughter, generosity and love.

When we remember Steven, there will be tears, but there will also be smiles, because few people could put a smile on the faces of those around them quite like he could. His voice, his laughter, his music and his presence will be deeply missed.

But the love he gave us will remain. This is how Steven will continue to live among us.