Jerry Elbasani

Jerry Elbasani, 82, of Raytown, MO, peacefully passed away on September 2, 2024, after a brief battle with cancer.  A celebration of his life will be held at Blue Ridge Presbyterian Church on Saturday, October 19, with a visitation and reception at 1:00pm and a service at 2:00pm. The church is wheelchair accessible.

Jerry was born on July 31, 1942, in Brooklyn, NY, to Ruth and Qamil Daja Elbasani.  He graduated from Boys High School in Brooklyn and City College of New York.  He became a certified YMCA Director and was the Youth Director for the YMCA in Flushing, NY.  He married Marsha MacMorran in 1971, and they moved to Fridley, MN, where they welcomed their son, Barry, whom they named after Jerry’s brother.

The family moved to Raytown soon after.  Jerry worked for Mutual Benefit Life where he was a member of the President’s Club and was awarded Man of the Year.  He served as President of the Raytown Rotary Club and was a Paul Harris Fellow.

Active with his son’s Boy Scout Troop, he was a Warrior in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say.  Jerry’s family calls him “the original American picker” as he loved finding hidden treasures at garage sales and flea markets.  In his retirement, he loved being a greeter at the Greenwood Wal-Mart.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Barry Elbasani, and his nephew Marc Elbasani.  He is survived by his wife Marsha (MacMorran) Elbasani, his son Barry Elbasani, his sister-in-law Kathy Elbasani, his nephew Colin Elbasani, his nieces Carrie Wallace O’Neill and Heather James, their 21-year-old cat Gracie, and many friends.

The family asks that memorial gifts be directed to Blue Ridge Presbyterian Church in Raytown, MO.