Jimmy Barnett was not garbage.
His younger brother, David Barnett, wants to make that perfectlyclear.
The man cut in two inside a Chicago grocery-store trash compactoron Thanksgiving "did some good and he did some bad" in his life, buthe wasn't trash, Barnett said Saturday.
"I can't get it out of my head because I went to see him at themorgue yesterday," said Barnett, 42, a night stocker at Toys R Usuntil he got injured on the job 11/2 years ago.
No one seems sure how Jimmy Barnett ended up in the compactor inan alley in the 3600 block of North Southport. Police say he wascrushed accidentally.
From time to time, Jimmy Barnett would "Dumpster dive," but mostlyhe didn't need to, friends and family said Saturday.
If you lived in Jimmy Barnett's North Side neighborhood, you mighthave seen the lanky 47-year-old in baggy painter's attire pushing agrocery-store cart filled with stacks of frozen hamburger, store-bought cakes or yellow Velveeta cheese boxes.
It was stuff that grocery stores were getting ready to throw out,said David Barnett. Jimmy Barnett could always find a buyer, andthat's how he made a meager living.
"He was a talker," said David Barnett's wife, Michele Barnett. "Hecould get you to buy anything. He would say, 'This would look good inyour house.' "
From time to time, Jimmy Barnett would sleep on his brother'scouch, and sometimes at a Salvation Army shelter.
He had two grown-up daughters and was divorced, but the gabbysalesman didn't talk about how his marriage ended, his brother said.Jimmy Barnett wasn't stupid, just a little slow, and if he had aproblem, he would go for a long walk rather than try to explain whatwas going on inside his head, friends said. He had a girlfriend --"Melissa" -- but her name is all his brother knew about her.
Jimmy Barnett had another job last year: He was a maintenance manat a Loop building on Dearborn. He had his own apartment, a pager anda cell phone. He kept his hair cut short and neat, and his whiskersoff his face.
"He felt needed, and with a big apartment building like that,you're needed all the time," Michele Barnett said.
Then another company came in and bought the building earlier thisyear. They told Jimmy Barnett they didn't need him anymore, hissister-in-law said.
The night before Thanksgiving, Jimmy Barnett was at his brother'shouse eating meatloaf.
"He said, 'This is the best meal I've ever had,' " the brotherrecalled.
David Barnett invited his brother to a Thanksgiving Day feast atan Old Country Buffet restaurant. Jimmy Barnett politely refused.
"He wasn't the type to go out for dinner," Michele Barnett said."That wasn't what he liked. He was going to his ex-wife's anddaughter's house, but he never made it there."
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