"Steve", age 75 of Pontiac, MI, passed away suddenly on Thursday, January 23, 2025. His family and friends are deeply saddened and shocked by his unexpected death. His passing has left a void in the hearts of his family, friends, and many more whose lives were touched by him.

Steve was born in Detroit, MI, and was brought up in the Detroit home of his grandparents, Charles and Bertha Scripture, and mother, Dorothy McMurray (neé Scripture). Steve had an easy way of making childhood friends and keeping those friends for his entire life. He enjoyed having go-kart races down his street and playing touch football with the neighbor boys. In his teens, he was quite the dancer appearing regularly on Robin Seymour's televised show, Swingin' Time, in Detroit.The girls loved to dance with Steve. In his latter years, Steve's pleasure was sitting in a comfortable chair and telling stories of his life growing up in Detroit. There was always plenty of laughter filling the room.

Steve was a simple man whose life was happy and complete spreading kindness to everyone in his path. Kindness is the quality which made Steve a shining star in the human family. So many friends and family have mentioned his kindness. One close family friend commented that Steve was the kindest person she had ever known. If you were a dear friend or family member, you could always expect a card on your birthday. You could also expect the treat of Steve singing "Happy Birthday" to you on the phone in his lovely voice. He didn't forget anyone.

Steve had a love of music, especially Celtic music from the McMurrays ancestral home of Ireland. He was an Irishman to the core. His love of the songs from Ireland found a perfect place with his brother, Richard's band, Shamrock Shore, and later with another band called Dragon's Tale. Steve sang and played the tambourine with all the vigor of a young man. The band members loved Steve and so did everyone who came to hear the band play. On Christmas Day of this past year, Steve was with Richard ("Rick") and his partner, Kathryn ("Kathy") Kearney, at their home, and as was their tradition, watching a treasured DVD of the Irish Rovers. Christmas was not over until the DVD was done.

Along with Steve's love of Irish music, he had a burning desire to know as much as he could about the McMurrays of Ireland. He enlisted his sister, Constance ("Connie"), to be his assistant with the research. Together over almost two decades they discovered a wealth of family history. Steve and Connie would talk for hours about their finds. They made a trip to a little town in Canada where they attended the church of their great-great grandparents and walked the land ("Little Ireland") where their ancestors had settled — a trip that Steve recalled many, many times over the years.

Steve worked his entire life as a material handler in the manufacturing industry. The work was hard. He was on his feet for the entire working day. But Steve never complained. When he retired from his job at US Farathane, he was given a party at the plant. It is no surprise that Steve led his fellow workers singing the Motown songs of his youth and having the time of his life.

Steve is survived by his brother, Richard McMurray and his partner, Kathryn Kearney, his sister, Constance Grzanka (neé McMurray), his brother-in-law, Charles Grzanka, his niece, Lauren Johnson, his nephews, Charles Grzanka, Ryan and Phillip McMurray, his grand-niece, Alexandra, and grand-nephew, Scott, along with cousins, Carolyn McCormick, Pauline Blanka, John and Shirley Scripture, Douglas Scripture, and Marilyn Scripture. Steve was predeceased by his father and mother, James and Dorothy McMurray, and his half-brother, James McMurray.

His journey on this earth was marked by love, kindness, compassion, and unwavering faith in God. He said the most beautiful prayers at family gatherings and was a substitute lay minister at Four Towns United Methodist Church where he will be dearly missed. Steve walked with his brother, Jesus, every day of his life.

Funeral services will be held at Nardin Park United Methodist Church, 29887 West Eleven Mile Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48336, on Friday, February 7, 2025. Viewing will be from 10:00 am until 11:00 am. Services will be from 11:00 am until Noon. The service will be available for live streaming on www.youtube.com/@nardinparkumc. Steve will be laid to rest at All Saints Cemetery, Waterford, MI at a private internment.

Memorial Donations may be made to The Salvation Army.

Steve's warmth, kindness, and love touched a wide circle of friends, family, and the residents of Pontiac Village Estates. A very special person in his life was Ruth Giannotta whose friendship with Steve was a precious gift. He will be deeply missed. May his memory be a source of comfort and inspiration to all who knew him.