Ree Drummond’s career has evolved over the past ten years, moving from her Pioneer Woman blog and books to her well-liked Food Network TV show.
But over the past five years, the famous chef and married mother of four, who routinely makes appearances on shows like The Today Show and The View, has also experienced enormous traumas personally.
Read on to learn what we know about her older brother Michael Smith’s terrible death.
At the age of 54, Michael Drummond passed away on October 30, 2021.
Dan Dalton, a close friend of Michael, did point out in a memorial on social media that he “went fast and did not suffer.” He never disclosed the reason for his passing.
On November 2, Dan was the first to announce Mike’s loss on social media, even though Ree Drummond’s sister Betsy also did so via an Instagram post.
A day later, the Food Network celebrity shared a Facebook memorial for her brother.
Following Mike’s passing, the cookbook author shared a statement on social media.
Ree penned the following Wednesday’s message: “Michael Smith, you were everything.”
I won’t attempt to summarize the presence of someone as marvelously attractive as my brother Michael at this time, she said. He was my first and closest buddy, and although he was 17 months older than me, I still value more than 50 years’ worth of photos and memories.
The 54-year-old added, “Please pray for my parents, whose love for Mike was unwavering, who will feel this loss most keenly.
Michael Smith, often known as Mike to his friends and family, was the older brother of Ree Drummond, a popular Food Network personality. Ree and Mike were two of the four kids who were reared in Bartlesville by their parents.
In his hometown of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Michael, who had special needs, was well-liked and had a deep interest in the work of the local first responders.
The Washington County Emergency Management Agency wrote a eulogy for the 54-year-old after learning of his loss, describing him as a “legend and icon” who “will be sorely missed and always remembered.”
The Bartlesville Professional Firefighters Union hailed Michael as “one of a kind” in a memorial service and remarked, “We are going to miss our friend Michael Smith.”
Because of his appearances on The Pioneer Woman on the Food Network and numerous references in Ree’s blog posts, Michael was also well-known to her readers.
Betsy, the younger brother’s sister, also posted a statement on social media when Mike passed away.
We lost Michael, my darling brother, this past weekend, she wrote on Instagram. He was special, and countless admirers will miss him. I’m thankful for his life, the connections he made, and his independent, joyous personality. You have my undying love, Mikey.
