Who Was Mary Jo 'MJ' Shannon? Meet Kris Jenner's Mom, Who Died At 91 Just Weeks Before Her Birthday
Kris Jenner has recently announced her mother, Mary Shannon's death at 91. Meanwhile, let us know all about her.
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Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleThe Kardashian clan is facing a difficult time due to the death of Kris Jenner's mother, Mary "MJ" Shannon. MJ has died at the age of 91, just days before what would have been her 92nd birthday. Kris confirmed the loss on social media with a touching tribute to her mother, who taught her the importance of family and gave unconditional love. Meanwhile, fans are remembering MJ, who became a familiar face on the family's reality show over time.
Who was Kris Jenner's mother, Mary Jo "MJ" Shannon?
Mary Jo "MJ" Shannon was the mother of Kris Jenner and the beloved matriarch of the Kardashian-Jenner family. Although she was not a main figure of the family's reality TV empire, she gained the love of fans after her occasional but impactful appearances on Keeping Up With The Kardashians and The Kardashians. She was admired for her calm, witty, and warm personality, and for sharing close bond with her kids and grandkids.
MJ was born on July 26, 1934, in Arkansas. Eventually, she built a life with her hard work that revolved around her family. The 91-year-old used to work as a model in her younger years before starting a business. Later, MJ opened a children's clothing boutique, Shannon And Company, in La Jolla, California.
In turn, Kris Jenner has often credited her mother for inspiring her entrepreneurial mindset. She often cited how MJ's determination and work ethic shaped the values she carries as a business owner and mother.
Apart from her career, MJ is known as the grandmother of Kourtney, Kim, Khloe, Rob Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, and Kylie Jenner. In fact, she was also adored by her many great-grandchildren.
All about Mary Jo Shannon's personal life
Over the years, MJ has been a big supporter of Kris and her grandchildren. Whether it was appearing on TV or in family photos later shared on social media, she was often seen spending time with her grandchildren and their kids.
In fact, fans also discussed how her playful personality often shone during her reality TV appearances. MJ has survived both breast cancer and colon cancer. But despite those challenges, she remained active in her family life.
Previously, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Kris Jenner became emotional when she talked about being separated from her mother. She explained how MJ was both her mother and her best friend. Needless to say, their relationship was one of the strongest bonds in the Kardashian-Jenner family.
MJ was married thrice. She was initially married shortly after high school. But she soon realized that it was not the right fit. In one of her conversations with Kim Kardashian in 2017, MJ recalled ending the union after realizing she wanted something different from life. In fact, she jockingly compared its short duration to Kim's 72-day marriage to Kris Humphries.
She married for the second time to Robert Houghton, and they welcomed daughters, Kris Jenner and Karen Houghton. But after that marriage ended, MJ raised her daughters by herself. Later, she tied the knot for the third time to businessman Harry Sue. They spent nearly four decades together before he died in a car accident in 2003.
Inside Mary Jo Shannon's final days and death
MJ spent her later years staying away from the spotlight. But she continued to maintain a strong bond with the Kardashian-Jenner family. Eventually, her death came more than two years after the death of her younger daughter, Karen Houghton, who died in 2024.
However, Kris has not revealed the cause of her mother's death. She just shared an emotional note recalling the 91-year-old's strength, kindness and unwavering love. The momager mentioned how her mother taught them how to face the challenges of life with resilience. Meanwhile, MJ died on July 16, 2026, just 10 days before her 92nd birthday. In Kris' words:
"Every memory, every moment, every blessing, it was all because of you, and I will forever thank God every single day for making you my mommy. My heart is broken into a million pieces… thank you for giving me the greatest childhood, and oh what a beautiful, blessed life. I love you forever, Mommy. Thank you for giving us everything."
Rest in peace, Mary Jo "MJ" Shannon. We share our heartfelt condolences to the Kardashian-Jenner clan in this difficult time.
Pic credits: Kris Jenner /Instagram, elitedaily/ Instagram, Kards Katch Up/ Insta
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