‘He died a hero’ | Community rallies around family of faithful North Texas man who died saving his children​on April 10, 2025 at 3:53 am

PRINCETON, Texas — Troy Scheffman was a devoted husband, father and a pillar in his McKinney church and Princeton community. Now, he’s being remembered not only for his heroic final act, but also for the way he lived — with love, faith and service.

“He was my best friend. My mentor,” said Rick Barber, who went to church with Scheffman at St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church.  

The two also served together in The Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal service organization. Scheffman was one of the chapter’s most active members.

Barber said Scheffman volunteered countless hours helping children, veterans and people experiencing homelessness. He was the kind of guy to fix anyone’s tire, give any stranger the shirt off his back. 

“He just had this positive effect of love, you know? That’s what our Christian Catholic faith is all about — loving one another,” Barber said with tears in his eyes. “Every day I wake up, I look for him. I go to church; I look for him. Because he was always there.”

Scheffman’s death has left a deep void in his community. But in the weeks since the fire, the same people he spent his life serving have stepped up to support his family. His funeral drew a full house, and a fundraiser launched in his honor meant to support his family is approaching $150,000.

“I say to myself, ‘Who am I going to rely on now?’” Barber said. “I have other friends who are brother Knights, but nobody like him.”

Barber hopes Scheffman’s example will continue to inspire others to live with compassion and purpose.

“Too many times we get caught up in things that aren’t all that important,” he said. “We think they are, when we’re in the middle of it. But we need to show others our generosity and our love for each other—no matter what.”

“He died a hero,” Barber said.