Mary Jo Campbell was the American businesswoman and mother best known as the first wife of aircraft engineer Robert True Houghton and the mother of television personality Kris Jenner. Born in Arkansas in 1934, she later became widely recognised under her third married name, Mary Jo Shannon, and built a reputation as a devoted matriarch to one of America’s most famous families. Her story matters because it offers insight into the early life of Kris Jenner and the family roots behind the Kardashian-Jenner dynasty. This article explores her background, marriages, career, and lasting legacy.
Mary Jo Campbell: Bio Table
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Mary Jo Campbell (later Shannon) |
| Born | 1934, Arkansas, United States |
| Died | July 2026, aged 91 |
| Parents | Gordon Lowe Campbell and Lou Ethel Campbell |
| First Husband | Robert Clee Toovey |
| Second Husband | Robert True Houghton (aircraft engineer) |
| Third Husband | Harry Shannon (businessman) |
| Children | Kristen Mary “Kris” Houghton (Kris Jenner) and Karen Lee Houghton |
| Occupation | Children’s clothing store owner |
| Education | Charms School of Fashionality |
| Notable Grandchildren | Kourtney, Kim, Khloé, and Robert Kardashian Jr; Kendall and Kylie Jenner |
| Legacy | Matriarch of the Kardashian-Jenner family roots |
Who Was Mary Jo Campbell?
Mary Jo Campbell was born in Arkansas in 1934 to parents Gordon Lowe Campbell and Lou Ethel Campbell. She grew up with a half-sister named Lou and, at just fifteen years old, enrolled at the Charms School of Fashionality to study fashion and modelling.
She later pursued a career in retail, eventually opening and running a children’s clothing store. This entrepreneurial streak became a defining trait, one that many observers note passed down through generations to her famous granddaughters.
Early Marriage to Robert Clee Toovey
Before meeting Robert True Houghton, Mary Jo married her high-school sweetheart, Robert Clee Toovey. The marriage was brief, ending in divorce after just a few months.
This early experience shaped her approach to relationships and family life, and she went on to marry twice more, each time building a fuller chapter of her personal story.
Marriage to Robert True Houghton
Mary Jo Campbell married Robert True Houghton, an aircraft engineer from San Diego, California, born on 12 May 1931. The couple settled in San Diego, where Robert built his career in the aerospace industry, a field the city was well known for at the time.
Together, they had two daughters: Kristen Mary Houghton, born on 5 November 1955 and now known as Kris Jenner, and Karen Lee Houghton. The marriage ended in divorce when Kris was seven years old, though Robert’s influence remained significant throughout his daughters’ lives. He died on 23 March 1975 in Mexico City at the age of 43.
What Was Robert True Houghton’s Profession?
Robert True Houghton worked as an aircraft engineer. His career reflected San Diego’s strong ties to the aerospace industry during the mid-twentieth century.
Marriage to Harry Shannon
Following her divorce from Robert Houghton, Mary Jo married businessman Harry Shannon. The marriage lasted nearly forty years, and Harry became a stepfather figure to Kris and Karen, helping raise both girls.
Through this marriage, Mary Jo gained a stepson, Steven Shannon. Harry Shannon died in 2003 following a car accident, bringing an end to a long and stable chapter of her life.
Life as Kris Jenner’s Mother
Mary Jo Shannon, as she became known, played a quiet but important role in the public lives of her daughter and grandchildren. She appeared occasionally on Keeping Up with the Kardashians, offering fans a glimpse of the family’s roots beyond the spotlight.
She became grandmother to seven grandchildren across her two daughters, including Kourtney, Kim, Khloé, and Robert Kardashian Jr, as well as Kendall and Kylie Jenner and Natalie Zettel. Khloé Kardashian later named her daughter True Thompson in honour of Robert True Houghton, Mary Jo’s second husband, showing how deeply family history remained woven into later generations.
Did Mary Jo Campbell Become a Great-Grandmother?
Yes. With grandchildren such as Kourtney and Khloé Kardashian having children of their own, Mary Jo became a great-grandmother multiple times over.
Later Life and Death
Mary Jo Campbell, later known as Mary Jo Shannon, lived to the age of 91. According to reports, she passed away in July 2026, marking the end of a life that spanned nearly a century and touched multiple generations of one of the world’s most recognised families.
Her passing was widely covered by entertainment outlets, reflecting the public’s enduring interest in the woman who raised Kris Jenner and helped shape the family’s early years long before global fame arrived.
Conclusion
Mary Jo Campbell led a life defined by resilience, entrepreneurship, and family devotion. From her early years in Arkansas to her marriages to Robert Clee Toovey, Robert True Houghton, and Harry Shannon, she built a foundation that would eventually support one of America’s most famous families. As the mother of Kris Jenner and grandmother to the Kardashian-Jenner siblings, her legacy remains an important part of their story.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Mary Jo Campbell?
Mary Jo Campbell was an American businesswoman and mother, best known as the first wife of aircraft engineer Robert True Houghton and the mother of Kris Jenner.
Who was Mary Jo Campbell married to?
She was married three times: first to Robert Clee Toovey, then to Robert True Houghton, and finally to businessman Harry Shannon.
How many children did Mary Jo Campbell have?
She had two daughters, Kristen Mary Houghton, known today as Kris Jenner, and Karen Lee Houghton.
What did Mary Jo Campbell do for a living?
She owned and ran a children’s clothing store, drawing on skills she developed after studying at the Charms School of Fashionality.
How is Mary Jo Campbell related to the Kardashians?
She is the maternal grandmother of Kourtney, Kim, Khloé, and Robert Kardashian Jr, and the grandmother of Kendall and Kylie Jenner, through her daughter Kris Jenner.
