Ree Drummond is grieving the loss of her older brother Michael Smith, who died on Oct. 30 at the age of 54.
“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 writes in the post of her brother.
“He was seventeen months older than me, my first friend and buddy, and I’m so grateful for over 50 years of photos and memories.”
Drummond, 52, added, “Please pray for my parents, whose devotion to Mike was boundless, and who will feel this loss most acutely. Michael Smith, you were everything.”
Ree and Michael’s sister Betsy also posted photo and loving caption: “We lost Michael, my sweet and wonderful brother, this last weekend. 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. Love you forever, Mikey.”
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The cause of death has yet been released.
In Drummond’s 2011 book, “The Pioneer Woman, Black Heels to Tractor Wheels,” Drummond wrote how Michael had “developmental disabilities.” But she was sure to include him in plenty of her projects, including him in her Food Network show as “Cowboy Mike.” She also dedicated one show to his favorite recipes, and in 2011, he led her onto the stage for a book signing.
Dan Dalton, Bartlesville Ambulance Service administrator, also shared a photo of Michael with a heartfelt tribute: “It is with a sad heart to announce that Bartlesville Icon, Michael Smith, has gone to heaven. He is well known by almost everyone in Bartlesville and other parts of the state and known nationally due to Ree Drummond his famous sister. It is nice to know that he went fast and did not suffer. God has been very good to my favorite buddy. I know he is making lots of new friends in heaven.”
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Dalton noted how Mike was living at the Bartlesville Assisted Living facility when he died.
Dalton added how his “personality just allowed him to get into places… Over 40 years he built a huge friend-base.”
In addition, the Bartlesville Professional Firefighters Union shared on Facebook that Smith typically “called us twice a day every day to just check in,” adding he was “one of a kind.” They also shared a photo of Mike, explaining it “was from the last time we let him cook for us” as they teased, “It only got a little bit smokey that evening.”
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