Who Was Mary Jo Shannon’s Husband? All About Kris Jenner’s Parents
What To Know
- Kris Jenner’s mother, Mary Jo Shannon, died on July 16, 2026.
- Shannon divorced Kris Jenner’s dad when she was 7.
- She remarried Harry Shannon, who passed away in 2003.
On July 16, Kris Jenner announced the death of her mom, Mary Jo “MJ” Shannon, at 91 years old.
The matriarch of the Kardashian family 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… 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.”
Scroll to find out all about Kris Jenner’s mother, Jenner’s biological father, and Mary Jo Shannon’s relationship with Jenner’s beloved stepfather, Harry Shannon.
Who was Mary Jo Shannon?
Fans of Keeping Up With the Kardashians will remember MJ, who made regular appearances on the show. She was also the owner of San Diego children’s boutique Shannon & Co., which she founded in 1980.
Remembering her late mother, Jenner wrote, “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… 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.”
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Who was Kris Jenner’s dad?
Kris Jenner’s biological father was Robert True Houghton, an aircraft engineer who died in 1975 following a car crash in Mexico. He and Mary Jo Shannon got married in 1954, before having Kris and her sister, Karen. The two got divorced when Kris was seven.
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Who was Kris Jenner’s step-dad?
Kris Jenner’s most consistent father figure was businessman Harry Shannon, who was married to Mary Jo Shannon for 40 years. In social media posts remembering Shannon before he died in a car crash in 2003, she referred to him as her dad.
In April 2025, she wrote, “Happy Birthday Dad!! There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about you… I miss you terribly and wish you could be here to see all the kids and great grandkids!!! I love you beyond measure.”
