Ree Drummond had to say goodbye to someone she loved dearly this weekend. Her brother, Michael Smith, has died. He was only 54.
Saying goodbye to a sibling can be incredibly difficult. When you think about all of the people in your life who care about you, siblings are usually some of the few who've known you throughout your entire life. It shakes an entire family, which is why the celebrity home chef chose to share some words on social media to make sure as many people as possible got to hear her words of tribute.
It seems like Ree and her brother Mike weren't just close — they were also born shortly after each other, meaning that many of their childhood adventures were experienced together.
"It isn't possible to sum up the life of someone as perfectly wonderful as my brother Michael, so right now I won't try," she wrote on Facebook the morning of November 3. "He was seventeen months older than me, my first friend and buddy."
"I'm so grateful for over 50 years of photos and memories. Please pray for my parents, whose devotion to Mike was boundless, and who will feel this loss most acutely," she added. "Michael Smith, you were everything."
Ree and Michael's sister, Betsy Lee Smith, also had some words to say about their brother. "We lost Michael, my sweet and wonderful brother, this last weekend," she wrote on Instagram, per People. "He was one of a kind, and he will be missed by so many people who loved him."
"I'm very thankful for his life, the connections he made and his caring, fun and independent spirit," she continued. "Love you forever, Mikey." As of now, it's not clear how he died, but it seems like he was an extraordinary presence.
For fans of Ree's show, Michael appeared on an episode back in 2014, when he helped Ree's husband, Ladd Drummond, feed some of the cattle on their property. According to USA Today, Ree also briefly mentioned her brother in her book The Pioneer Woman, Black Heels to Tractor Wheels, which was released back in 2011, noting that Michael was born with developmental disabilities.
"My kids love it when Uncle Mike comes over and I love it, too," she said in the segment he was featured in. "Mike and I have always been really close. So many of my childhood memories were centered around Mike." She also made a point to say that he was one of the most popular members of the family.
Ree was born as Anne Marie Smith in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Aside from Mike and Betsy, she also has a brother named Doug. She reached success somewhat organically. After starting up a popular blog in May 2006, she developed a fan base and became a trusted source when it came to recipes.
Despite Ree's fame, the family still has plenty of hometown family and friends. According to Mashed, Dan Daulton — an administrator at Bartlesville Ambulance Service in Oklahoma and a friend of Mike's — gave word that he didn't suffer during his passing.
"He went fast and did not suffer," he noted. "I know he is making lots of new friends in heaven."
One of the reasons why Ree has always been such an appealing public figure is the fact that she's relatable. Sharing information about her family and bringing viewers in makes them feel as if she's a personal friend. So in a way, Ree's loss is truly everyone's loss. Hopefully, the family will be able to recover from such an untimely loss.
