A quiet and polite student, an active community volunteer, a dedicated family man and a friend to all. Two people who knew him say those are apt ways to describe Timothy E. Barrett, 40, of Dayton, an auger operator for Walter L. Houser Coal Co. who died Tuesday after apparently being overcome by gas inside a hole at the site. Barrett had a wife, Julie, and together they are the parents of four children: Lacee, 11; Ryan, 15; Lexi, 18, and Jessica, 20. He was also an active board member of the Armstrong County 4-H Horseman's Association for the past nine years, and fellow board member Suzanne Boarts said Barrett was interested in involving not only his own children in such activities, but others as well. "He's been a wonderful volunteer for all these years and a supporter of both his children and those of others," said Boarts, who herself joined the board four years ago. "He's just an absolutely wonderful and generous person, always very cooperative, very willing to help; I'm just shocked right now." Jim Chestnut of Kittanning Township, who taught Barrett in his 12th grade English class at Lenape Vocational Technical School, also was overcome by news of his death. "Tim was a tremendous person, always very active," recalled Chestnut. "He was a quiet, well-mannered kid." And Chestnut's connection to Barrett continued later in life, when he had a hand in providing Barrett with one of his wedding gifts. "We raised collies at one time, and someone bought one of them to give to Tim when he got married," said Chestnut. "He was also an excellent family man."

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