Mary Jo “MJ” Campbell, a cherished member of the Kardashian family, has died at the age of 91.
Campbell, the mother of businesswoman Kris Jenner, became familiar to millions of viewers through her appearances on the family’s hit reality series, Keeping Up With The Kardashians.
The long-running show followed Jenner and her children, Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian and Rob Kardashian, as their family life became a global pop culture phenomenon.
A heartbroken Jenner shared the news of her mother’s death with her Instagram followers on Thursday, posting an emotional tribute to the woman she described as the “heart” of their family.
“Today, we said goodbye to my beautiful Mommy MJ,” Jenner wrote. “There are no words that could ever capture what she has meant to me or the heartbreak of having to say goodbye.
“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.
Beloved Kardashians family member Mary Jo Campbell has died at age 91
“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.
‘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.’
The Daily Mail has contacted a representative for the Kardashians for comment.
Campbell’s family shot to worldwide fame with their eponymous reality show, Keeping Up With The Kardashians – which also propelled her into the spotlight.
She frequently appeared on the show, was a guest at their many parties, competed on Celebrity Family Feud with them, appeared in a KKW Beauty photo shoot, and made multiple cameos on her famous family’s Instagram accounts.
MJ made frequent appearances on her family’s reality show over the years
Years before the Kardashians became household names, Campbell also pursued a career that put her in the spotlight, working as a model in her early years, according to People.
As an adult, however, she embraced a quieter life hundreds of miles away from Hollywood.
In 1980, she opened Shannon & Company, a children’s clothing boutique in the San Diego neighborhood of La Jolla – a store she ran for years before it eventually closed.
It is a store that was also frequented by the Kardashian siblings when they were children.
‘They grew up playing in the store,’ Campbell told The Daily Beast in 2012. ‘I recall Kim sitting on this very floor and counting money. She would sing, ‘Counting is the game, and money is my name,’ or ‘Money is my name and counting is the game.’ Something like that.’
The beloved grandmother appeared in a [hoto shoot for Kim’s beauty range KKW Beauty back in 2018
The store is what ‘keeps me going. If I didn’t have the store, I would probably spend more time up [in Calabasas with family]. I want to keep my little house as my haven, because then you have some place to run to,’ she said.
Campbell was already no stranger to the spotlight having worked as a model in her early years, according to People.
Campbell was married three times in her life.
A marriage she had with her high school sweetheart ended after just two months.
She then wed Robert Houghton, whom she had daughters Kris Jenner and Karen Houghton with.
Campbell and Houghton ultimately split when Jenner was seven-years-old.
She walked down the aisle again with Harry Shannon, a marriage which lasted 40 years until his death in 2003.
It is a love life that bears a striking similarity to her granddaughter Kim – who has also been married three times.
‘We have so much in common. History repeats itself,’ Campbell once said. ‘I can’t believe it because I was married for two months at 18. Right out of high school I was given an engagement ring, a guy I had been going with for four years.
‘And then I just thought, ‘You know what? This isn’t really that much fun,’ so I got out of it.’
‘Once you got married you realized it. ‘What did I do?’ And you try to stay in there for a month or so and really try hard and you just can’t,’ she added. ‘You think, ‘I shouldn’t waste his time.’
