Gina Diffillippo Jones, age 66, of Lake Brownwood died Monday morning at her home following a lengthy illness.

A celebration of her life will be held at 7pm Wednesday in the Heartland Funeral Home Chapel with Chaplain Tony King officiating. Her body will be cremated following the service.

She was born January 14, 1945 in Sicily and was raised in a convent in Maine from the age of two. She completed high school at the age of fourteen and received a college degree at the age of sixteen. She worked as an aide for Mayor Beth Finch of Fayetteville, North Carolina and later for the Pentagon. She later received her LVN license and worked as a nurse for over 20 years prior to her retirement.

Gina was a very giving person and actively supported the Lake Brownwood Lions Club. She served as Mrs. Claus at Texas Bank, Lake Brownwood. As a political aide, she was friends with former governor Ann Richards and the current governor Rick Perry. She has been a resident of Lake Brownwood for the past 20 years and loved to travel with her spouse, Casey Jones in his travels as a truck driver and was known to get behind the wheel on occasions.

She is survived by her spouse Casey Jones of Lake Brownwood, 2 sons – Scott Phelps of Merkel and R. D. “Buddy” Phelps of Rosharon, Texas; a Godchild, Raynell Wayning of Maine; a Granddaughter – Candice Phelps of Granger and a great-granddaughter.

She also leaves behind several cousins and other relatives in Sicily.