Kris Jenner‘s younger sister Karen Houghton has died aged 65 with the Kardashian matriarch paying emotional tribute to her sibling.

Karen – who famously had a rollercoaster relationship with Jenner, 68 – was reported deceased to San Diego County officials on Monday in San Marcos, California, TMZ reports.

The exact circumstances of her passing are unclear, with county officials attributing her death to natural causes for now.

Karen was Kris’ only sister, with the pair growing up in San Diego together raised predominately by mom MJ after her divorce from the pair’s father Robert Houghton. 

On Tuesday, Jenner shared snaps with her beloved sister and wrote: ‘It is with the heaviest heart and deepest sadness that I share that my sister Karen passed away yesterday unexpectedly. 

Kris Jenner’s younger sister Karen Houghton has died aged 65 with the Kardashian matriarch paying emotional tribute to her sibling

Jenner shared snaps with her beloved sister and wrote: ‘It is with the heaviest heart and deepest sadness that I share that my sister Karen passed away yesterday unexpectedly’

Kris reunited with Karen after a period of estrangement in 2019 – with their meet documented in an Instagram Story posted by Karen’s daughter Natalie Zettel – [L-R] Natalie, Karen, Mary Jo Campbell, Kris and Kylie Jenner

‘My heart aches for my mom MJ and my niece Natalie and I pray that God guides us all through this difficult time. Karen was beautiful inside and out. She was the sweetest, kindest, the most sensitive and vulnerable and so so funny. 

‘She always felt grateful and thankful for her life and treasured her family and friends and especially her beautiful daughter. She holds such a huge part of my heart and I cherish every single memory we have together. 

‘Karen’s passing is a reminder that life is so short and precious and tomorrow is never promised. We must tell those we cherish how much we love them. I love you my beautiful sister.’

Karen is survived by her daughter Natalie, 26, who she welcomed with ex-husband Mark Zettel, mother MJ , Kris and nieces Kourtney, Kim and Khloe Kardashian, Kendall and Kylie Jenner, and nephew Rob Kardashian.

Kris and Karen had long endured a rollercoaster relationship, oscillating between taking public barbs at one another, to Kris lavishing her little sister with pricey gifts. 

In 2019 the pair were revealed to have reunited in an Instagram Story posted by Karen’s daughter Natalie.

The feuding sisters posed smiling with Natalie, her famous cousin Kylie Jenner, and their mother Mary Jo Campbell.

Part-time nurse Karen had become known as the black sheep of the family after she candidly opened up outside Kim Kardashian’s baby shower in 2013 and even did a jig for waiting reporters.

Despite signing an NDA for the event, Karen waxed lyrical about eating ‘marshmallow on a stick’, the rose cake at the event and the goody bag, saying Kim and Kanye West ‘gave out Rolexes’.

Karen had frequently been outspoken when her sister Kris has riled her. In 2014, Karen told Radar that despite Kris and her estranged husband Bruce looking friendly there would be no reunion.

The exact circumstances of her passing are unclear, with county officials attributing her death to natural causes for now

Kris said: ‘My heart aches for my mom MJ and my niece Natalie and I pray that God guides us all through this difficult time. Karen was beautiful inside and out. She was the sweetest, kindest, the most sensitive and vulnerable and so so funny’

Kris shared photos of Karen with her late ex-husband Robert Kardashian and mom MJ

Kris posted a snap of Karen with mom and a young Kourtney Kardashian

Karen embraced Rob Kardashian in a sweet throwback snap

In May 2023 Karen’s daughter Natalie posted a loving tribute for Mother’s Day posing with Karen and grandma MJ

Natalie shared a glamorous snap of mom Karen in the post

Natalie posed with MJ – who Kardashians fans will know well from their reality shows 

Karen said: ‘Bruce left. He walked out on her, and I think he’s not coming back. He couldn’t take the yelling anymore and stuff.’

And she said Kris was not taking the split well, adding: ‘I think she’s got issues right now because Bruce left her. ‘Kris is alone, she’s not dating. She’s not the type to run around.’

She made the comments after writing on her Facebook page in April 2014: ‘Pray for Kris Jenner she needs it…crazy. Shes as nutcase [sic].

‘She doesn’t need prayers she needs sky vodka hahaha hahaha hahaha.’ And explaining her somewhat harsh views, Karen said ‘I get p***ed off at her because she doesn’t respond to me. If you think your sister would call you back, she doesn’t. And it hurts me.’

However the part-time nurse did poke fun at herself too, in a May 2014 Facebook post, writing, ‘Be someone s crazy aunt…its fabulous! !! K [sic]’

 In 2016, Karen paid the ultimate compliment to the momager, getting an intensive face lift in order to ‘look like my beautiful sister Kris’

Karen – blamed her sibling’s celebrity status and hunger for fame and fortune.

She said: ‘I don’t care how much money you have or who you are, you’re my sister. I’m not afraid of her. I can’t get to her anymore. But I guess it’s the money.

‘She’s a huge celebrity and now she has changed. I’m not saying good or bad. But I’ve seen what it can do to Kris… ever since she moved to L.A.’

Admitting she has had run-ins with Kris – mainly to do with caring for their aging mother, Karen told MailOnline: ‘I called up Kris yelling at her, because I was like, “You need to help your mom more and you know it.” And I think that she kind of got the message.I was screaming – I don’t even care.

In 2014, the former air stewardess told Radar, ‘when you express a loving family and family values and a close family and my mom wants to live in La Jolla, buy her a condo, Kris! I don’t understand her. I never will. It’s just her personality.’

The attack followed a 2013 interview during which Kris told Radar: ‘Unfortunately, my sister has been dealing with demons for years.’

 In the star’s 2011 autobiography she said of her sister, ‘We loved each other, and we were there for each other through thick and thin, and to this day we are a part of each other’s lives.’

In 2016, Karen paid the ultimate compliment to the momager, getting an intensive face lift in order to ‘look like my beautiful sister Kris’.