Kim Kardashian honours grandmother Mary Jo ‘MJ’ Shannon after her death at 91

Kim Kardashian has shared an emotional tribute after the death of her grandmother, Mary Jo “MJ” Shannon, who died at the age of 91.

Family announcement and public tributes

Kris Jenner publicly announced her mother’s death on Thursday, July 16. In her tribute Kris wrote that “My mom was the heart of our family,” and described MJ as someone who taught her children and grandchildren the importance of loving fiercely, showing kindness and always putting family first.

Following Kris’s announcement, other family members also shared memories. The article reports that Khloé Kardashian and Kylie Jenner honoured their grandmother by sharing throwback videos of her on their Instagram stories.

Kim Kardashian’s message

An hour after Kris Jenner’s announcement, Kim posted a collection of photos of her and her grandmother and wrote a long tribute. In her post Kim called MJ “my best friend, my gossip buddy, my forever twin.”

“My sweet Grandma MJ, my best friend, my gossip buddy, my forever twin… You taught all of us the importance of family, and those values are something we’ll carry with us forever!!!!!”

Kim thanked MJ for supporting her and for initiating her into business. She wrote that MJ “was the woman who showed me what it meant to be a hardworking businesswoman. You gave me my very first job at your store in San Diego and taught me lessons about work ethic, strength, and confidence that I’ve carried with me ever since.”

Kim added that MJ “always believed in me, championed me, and were my safe place. You truly were the matriarch of our family, and your love is woven into all of us.”

She closed by imagining MJ reunited with family members who have died, writing: “I know you’re at peace now. Give Papa Harry, Aunt Karen, and my dad a hug for me. You will always be a part of me. I love you soooooo much, and I will miss you forever and ever. YOU ARE THE BEST OF US!!! I know you are up in heaven, looking at all of our Instagram posts of you from your sneaky finsta account you would always use lol.”

MJ Shannon’s life and public profile

The article notes that MJ was born on July 26, 1934, in Arkansas. Before becoming a familiar presence on the family’s reality television shows, MJ reportedly worked as a model and in 1980 opened Shannon & Company, a children’s boutique in San Diego. It was at that store that Kim has said she got her first job and early exposure to business.

Legacy

The piece describes MJ as a beloved matriarch whose wit and close bond with family members made her a fan favourite on Keeping Up with the Kardashians and The Kardashians. The article says she is survived by her family, who continue to celebrate the legacy of the woman they called the heart of the Kardashian-Jenner family.