Tracey Ann Butler-Cruz, age 52, of Middletown, RI died suddenly and unexpectedly on 11/28/25. Our family is in shock and completely devastated by her passing.

Tracey had chronic health issues that had plagued her since her early twenties, including Lupus and Fibromyalgia, and she endured constant, terrible pain. However, considering the toll Lupus had taken on her body, she was generally doing well and her medical conditions were stable. At Thanksgiving, the day prior to her passing, she was her usual self: loving, cheerful, minimizing her personal struggles, and enjoying time with her family. We are so thankful we were able to see her that way one last time but it will never be enough.

Tracey and her husband Jeremy had been together since high school and were completely devoted to each other. They took care of each other and were each other's "rock". She was so proud of her children Kendra, Marquis, and Olivia and loved them fiercely. She saw her son marry his high school sweetheart and was able to dance with him at his wedding in October 2025. Tracey had become a grandmother three times over in the last year and was deliriously happy to be surrounded by babies. She was on her way to becoming the best grandma in the whole world. We are so incredibly sad that this is the end of her story, when so many good things were happening in her life.

Tracey strongly believed that family was not limited by legal or biological ties, but was determined by love. She leaves behind her adoring husband Jeremy Cruz, daughter Kendra Butler and boyfriend Lance Lopez, son Marquis Butler-Cruz and wife Anisa, and daughter Olivia Peabody and husband Victor; her grandchildren Mayari, Kaido, Eden and Thais; her parents Peter and Anita Butler and biological father David M Greenfield and wife Shirley; her siblings Debbie Butler and wife Sandra Alua, Tina Wilkinson and husband Keith, Jennifer Jordan and husband Alexis Sherard, David Greenfield, Jr and partner Liz Crawford, and Darrell Greenfield and wife Dorothy; her nieces and nephews Evy, Toby, Max, Dionna, Michael, Marcus, Quadre, Brooklyn, Devon, D'Andre, Amaja, and Azia; numerous Greenfield aunts, uncles, and cousins; and her best friend Glenda and her children Alex and Marcus, "adopted" son Jelani, the Bebe and Duberek families, and countless others who loved and were loved by her.

Tracey advocated for racial and gender equality and LGBTQ+ and disability rights, to name a few. She believed that all humans have the right to be safe, housed, fed, loved, and treated with basic decency and respect. She sought to educate others about Lupus, other autoimmune diseases, and chronic illness in general. She had no tolerance for nonsense and proudly proclaimed her beliefs through an extensive collection of sometimes in-your-face but always funny t-shirts that she loved showing off to her family and friends. She will be missed beyond measure and we are lucky to have had her in our lives.

Calling hours will be held at Memorial Funeral Home, Friday December 12, 2025 from 10a-1p. A reception will be held at the Knight of Columbus from 2-5pm, 7 Valley Rd. Middletown RI 02842.

In lieu of Flowers please make donation to: Food Distribution Center at Martin Luther King Center, 20 Dr. Marcus F Wheatland BLVD, Newport RI