Mary Jo Campbell, the mother of Kris Jenner and a beloved presence on Keeping Up with the Kardashians, has died at the age of 91. Jenner announced the loss to her Instagram followers on Thursday, sharing an emotional tribute to the woman she described as the heart of the family.
Known affectionately by the family as “MJ”, Campbell was born on 26 July 1934 and would have celebrated her 92nd birthday later this month. She became a familiar and much-loved figure to fans of the reality franchise through her regular appearances on both Keeping Up with the Kardashians and its successor, The Kardashians, frequently appearing alongside her children and grandchildren on screen over the years.
Kris Jenner’s tribute
Announcing her mother’s death, Jenner wrote: “Today, we said goodbye to my beautiful Mommy MJ. There are no words that could ever capture what she has meant to me or the heartbreak of having to say goodbye.” She went on to describe the values her mother had instilled in the family: “My mom was the heart of our family. She taught me everything that truly matters… to love your family fiercely, to be kind, to show up for the people you love, and to never take a single moment together for granted. She taught us that family is everything. She showed us how to love unconditionally and how to find joy in the little moments. She showed me how to face life’s challenges with resilience and faith.”
Jenner reflected further on her mother’s lasting influence, writing: “Mom, thank you for every sacrifice you made, every piece of wisdom you shared, and every moment you loved us so completely. I will miss our daily talks, your smile, your laughter… Our hearts are broken, but we find comfort knowing that love like yours never truly leaves us. Your love will live on in our family, in our traditions, in every moment we are together, and in every life you touched. When I look at my kids and my grandkids, I will forever see pieces of you in all of us. There is not a part of me that isn’t shaped by you. And if I have done anything right in this world, it’s because I spent my life trying to live in a way that would make you proud. 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.”
A life beyond the spotlight
Before becoming a familiar face to reality television audiences, Mary Jo Campbell owned and ran the Shannon & Company children’s clothing boutique in La Jolla, California, for many years prior to her retirement. She was the mother of both Kris Jenner and Karen Houghton, and grandmother to Kourtney, Kim, Khloé and Rob Kardashian, as well as Kendall and Kylie Jenner. Across the wider Kardashian and Jenner families, she was also a great-grandmother to 14 great-grandchildren.
Family pays tribute
Following Jenner’s announcement, several members of the extended Kardashian-Jenner family shared their own tributes on social media, posting photographs and memories of MJ in the wake of her death. Jenner described her mother as the family’s enduring “heart,” saying the love, traditions and values she instilled would continue to be carried forward through future generations of the family.
