Lennie Lukardis (Doolie) Rule

Lennie Lukardis (Doolie) Rule

Lennie Lukardis (Doolie) Rule of Brownsville, Texas passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 29, 2020 surrounded by loving family.

Doolie was born February 21, 1930 in McFadden, Texas to Leon Albert Ernst and Marvel Eugenia Hickman Ernst.  Doolie married Dale B. Rule (Budde) on August 26, 1948 in San Perlita, Texas.  They were married 60 years at the time of his passing in 2009.

Doolie was an artist and owned and operated Doolie’s Paint Shack in Laguna Heights for many years.  She was a founding member of Laguna Madre Art League and served in many capacities.  She taught art lessons for many years in Port Isabel and counts many winter Texan art students as dear friends. Many of her paintings, cards and prints can be seen in local hotels and shops (Sea Turtle, Inc) on South Padre Island.

Doolie’s painting, “Harvest” won the Circuit Merit Award and was on display at the Elizabet Ney Museum from 1964-1965. Another painting in oil “Yellow Roses” hung in the Austin State Capitol.

Before moving to Brownsville in 1995, Doolie and Budde lived in San Perlita where Doolie served on the school board and was a trustee at the time the San Perlita gymnasium was built. She was always proud of this accomplishment.

But her greatest achievements were centered on God. She was a faithful member of New Life Pentecostal Church in Brownsville for 45 years.  She counted it an extreme accomplishment that all her children serve the Lord.  Three of her grandsons and one great grandson are licensed ministers.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Dale B. Rule; her parents, Leon Albert Ernst and Marvel Eugenia Hickman Ernst; and by her son-in-law, Scott McManus.

Doolie is survived by her children, her sons: Budde Deen Rule and wife Linda of Bulverde, Texas, Brooks Boyd Rule and wife Susan of Brownsville, Texas and Bradley Dale Rule of Brownsville, Texas, and her daughter, Belinda Rule McManus of Greenville, TX; 8 grandchildren: Collette Hill and husband Rocky of Kerrville, Texas, Kevin Rule and wife Trelawny of Kerrville, Texas, Kelby Rule and wife Ketrina of Kerrville, Texas, Koby Rule and wife Amy of Bulverde, Texas, Keely Rule and wife Christy of New Braunfels, Texas, Kaleb Rule and wife Kristin of Port Arthur, Texas, Miranda Nicole Rule of Brownsville, Texas and Lucas McManus and wife Nancy of Greenville, Texas; 17 great-grandchildren, 15 great-great grandchildren; her sister, Jenie McCraw of Mathis, Texas; her nephew, David McCraw and her niece, Bethany McCraw; and by her many loving friends from New Life Church who were like family.

The family will gather for a private graveside service at Mont Meta Memorial Park in San Benito, Texas where she will be laid to rest beside her beloved husband Budde.

Officiating will be her pastor, Rev David G. Boone of New Life Center United Pentecostal Church and three grandsons, Rev. Kaleb Rule, Rev. Keely Rule and Rev. Lucas McManus.

Honored to serve as her pallbearers are her grandsons Kevin Rule, Kelby Rule, Koby Rule, Keely Rule, Kaleb Rule, and Lucas McManus.

One of Doolie’s favorite scriptures was: Matthew 5:13 (KJV) ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted?  It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

“Work like you don’t need the money.

Love like nobody has ever hurt you.

Dance like nobody is watching.

Sing lie nobody is listening.

Live as if this was paradise on earth.”

Memories of Doolie may be shared at www.darlingmouser.com.

Personalized funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home at 945 Palm Boulevard in Brownsville, Texas 78520, (956) 546-7111.