Madelynn Elizabeth Lequia displays a photo of her aunt, Beth Murray, in front of the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree. Murray’s family and friends continue to keep her memory alive by donations made in her honor each Christmas. (Contributed photo)

KINGSFORD — Family and friends of the late Beth Murray, who passed away in 2013, continue to keep her memory alive.

The acts of kindness she showed are carried on through the support of the Dickinson County Salvation Army’s Angel Tree. This program was special to Beth’s heart and something she took part of each year during Christmas.

Beth was saddened by the number of customers — including high-profile individuals — who would pass by the Angel Tree in the Green Bay Starbucks, where she worked as a supervisor, and wouldn’t take an angel off the tree.

Her sister, Andrea Lequia, said she and a co-workers would take all the remaining tags off the tree and shop for them. It broke her heart to think that those left on the tree wouldn’t have gifts for Christmas, she said.

The funds collected for the Beth Murray Memorial go to ensure that local children who are living in need will wake up on Christmas morning not just to find toys under the tree but also other necessities such as socks, underwear, pajamas and more.

Since Beth’s passing, her mother, Sue VanRemortel, along with her sister and brother-in-law, Andrea and Brian Lequia and their daughter, Madelynn, support this program as Beth did.

The Lequias continue to instill the importance of family and having a giving heart in their daughter, Madelynn Elizabeth, who was named after Beth.

“This is a legacy of love she would be proud of,” her sister, Andrea, said.

Anyone wishing to join Beth’s family in continuing this Legacy of Love can mail monetary donations payable to The Salvation Army, 145 Roseland St., Kingsford, MI 49802. Donors are asked to write “Beth Murray Memorial” on the check memo.