Kris Jenner mourns death of mother Mary Jo 'MJ' Campbell at 91

Kris Jenner’s mother, Mary Jo “MJ” Shannon, has died. Jenner shared the news on Instagram on Thursday. MJ was 91, People.com reports.

In her post Jenner wrote, “…we said goodbye to my beautiful Mommy MJ.” She said there are no words that can explain what her mother meant to her or how sad she feels. Jenner called MJ the heart of their family.

Jenner said her mother taught her the most important things in life: love your family fiercely, be kind, show up for people you love, and never take time together for granted. 

She wrote that MJ showed them how to love without conditions and how to find joy in small moments. MJ also taught Jenner to be strong and to have faith.
Jenner wrote a long message to MJ, thanking her for every sacrifice and every piece of wisdom. She said she will miss their daily talks, MJ’s smile, and her laughter. 

Jenner added that MJ’s love will live on through the family and in the children and grandchildren. “If I have done anything right in this world, it’s because I tried to live in a way that would make you proud,” Jenner wrote.

Mary Jo Campbell was born on July 26, 1934. She married her high school sweetheart but divorced two months later. In 1954 she married Robert “Bob” True Houghton and had Kris in 1955 and Karen in 1958. 

According to BBC, after seven years they divorced. MJ later married Harry Shannon, who helped raise Kris and Karen in San Diego. MJ ran a children’s clothing store there. Harry died in 2003.

MJ appeared many times on Keeping Up With the Kardashians and the follow-up series The Kardashians. In clips, family members said she survived colon and breast cancer. 
In later years she had health problems linked to cancer treatment. One show clip shows MJ taking medicine before eating, then sharing marijuana gummies and snacks with Kris.

Shortly after Jenner’s announcement, some people criticized a social media post of Kim Kardashian and Khloe drinking tequila on a boat. 

Kim explained the post had been scheduled earlier and said she had been with her mom and grandmother the past week. 

She later posted a tribute to MJ, calling her “my best friend” and praising the lessons MJ taught her about work and family.

Two weeks ago, the family also lost their long-time bodyguard, Mason Haynes, in a traffic accident. He was 52.