Leonard Bruce Crossno, age 80, was born November 16, 1935 in Paris, Arkansas to the late Leonard Crossno and Letha Mae (Scrivner) Crossno. He passed away Saturday, December 19, 2015 at 5:03 a.m. in Neosho, Missouri. He was also preceded in death by his sisters, Carolyn Sisk and Stella Warick, and his infant brother.

Bruce graduated from Paris High School in 1953, joining the U. S. Marine Corps after graduation. He spent 14 years in the U.S. Marines Corps and after leaving the marines in 1967, he joined the U.S. Army retiring in 1975. Bruce was a Korean War veteran and served a tour of duty in Vietnam from 1968-1969 and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal (1968) and the Bronze Star Medal (1969). He graduated from Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy in 1976 and graduated with an Associate of Applied Science degree from Westark Community College in 1978. Bruce served the people of the State of Arkansas in law enforcement for 23 years in many different positions including being Chief of Police for his hometown of Paris, Arkansas from 1976-1978, before finally retiring in 1999 as a deputy sheriff for the Logan County Sheriff's Department. Bruce worked as Director of Public Safety at Westark Community College from 1982-1996. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Paris.

Funeral service will be 12:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 23rd, at Brotherton Funeral Home Chapel in Paris. Burial with "Full Military Honors" will be 2:00 p.m. at Fort Smith National Cemetery in Fort Smith, under the direction of Brotherton Brothers Funeral Home in Paris.

He is survived by his long love, Betty (Brown) Crossno; three daughters, Teresa Lester and husband Rick of Neosho, Missouri, Debria Bowman of Bonita Springs, Florida and Lois Lasater and husband Byron of Fort Smith; two sons, Thomas Crossno and wife Cindy of Neosho, Missouri and Robert Crossno and wife Tana of Bentonville; one brother, Gary Crossno and two sisters, Ila Mae Hutson and Betty Smith; as well as his favorite people, (16) grandchildren and (16) great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Mathew Turley, Nick Walters, Dustin Connell, Rick Lester, Rodney Lester, and James Harp.

Honorary pallbearers will be Creek Harp, Evan Thomas, Kaiden Kimball, Hayden & Grasyn Connell, Colby Walters, Dylan Crossno, and Harvest Strothers.

Family will visit with friends 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday night at the funeral home in Paris.

To pay an online tribute, please visit www.brothertonbrothersfuneralhomes.com .

To view video - http://videos.lifetributes.com/658141