Muriel L. Hykes

Educator and advocate Muriel Hykes of Cogan Station PA passed away early Friday morning, 28 July
2023, following a lengthy struggle with congestive heart failure.

A biochemist with degrees in biology and psychology, as well as teaching credentials and a strong
research interest in neuropharmacology, Muriel was forced by illness to drop out of medical school at
LSU Medical Center, University of New Orleans. Despite this, thanks to the advent of the Internet, she
managed to establish herself as an independent science consultant, educational advocate, and
practitioner of the alternative healing arts. She often said that if she had been healthier, she would
probably have ended up “just another asshole MD-PhD researcher working for Big Pharma.”
The daughter of Joyce Kramer Hykes and Robert Hykes, Muriel was born in Bloomsburg PA on 11
January 1956. She graduated from Montoursville High School in 1973 and Penn State University in 1977,
earned a teaching credential at Lycoming College, and received special education certification at
Mansfield University. She raised five gifted and special needs sons, prompting her extensive advocacy in
disability rights and gifted education.

Muriel and her husband Paul were members of Temple Beth HaSholom, Williamsport PA. They were also
extremely active in Mensa, the high IQ society, in which they first met. They served together on Central
Pennsylvania Mensa’s Ex-Comm (Executive Committee) for decades, quipping that upon the end of the
Cold War, “everybody was an Ex-Commie.” They both served terms as Mensa Membership Coordinator,
were guest lecturers at numerous Mensa Regional Gatherings and Annual Gatherings, and fielded a
team every year for Culture Quest, Mensa’s annual trivial competition (where, against stiff competition,
they never even took home the bronze). Muriel held Mensa volunteer positions as Williamsport Area
Coordinator, Gifted Children Coordinator, Proctor, Testing Coordinator, Social Media Chair, Scholarship
Judge, and Deputy Local Secretary.

While her sons were of school age, Muriel was the coach for their Odyssey of the Mind teams, and
Assistant Scoutmaster of their Boy Scout troop. She also founded and moderated numerous medical,
special needs, and gifted student forums online, providing free consultation, encouragement, and
guidance to hundreds of parents of children with special needs. At numerous Science Fiction
conventions around the world, Muriel, a voracious reader, was a frequent panelist and guest speaker,
affectionately known as “Dr. Mom.”

In December of 2021, Muriel was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. She had always been
immunocompromised, ever since she had to drop out of med school. But she always toughed it out,
always pushed forward, always found a way. Little by little, she had to cut back on her many personal,
professional, and volunteer activities. As her health deteriorated, her husband found himself her fulltime
caregiver. Eventually, her needs exceeded his abilities. She spent months in a succession of
hospitals and nursing homes. Paul sat by her side, held her hand, and finally heard her last breaths.
Muriel Hykes died at UPMC Lock Haven hospital on 28 July 2023, 19 months after her initial diagnosis.

She is survived by husband Dr. H. Paul Shuch of Cogan Station PA, sons Bryn Bailey of Elimsport PA,
Aubrey Bailey (Haley Tucker) of Chicago IL, Devin Bailey (Samantha Bailey) of Addison NY, Curran Bailey
of Elimsport PA, Erin Altaire (Dr. Skye Altaire) of Cochranville PA; stepson Andrew Shuch of Berlin
Germany, stepdaughter Erika Chong Shuch (Allen Willner) of Berkeley CA, and grandsons Owen Bailey of
Chicago IL and Wakes Wilner of Berkeley CA.

A memorial service is being held for her at 10 AM Sunday, 6
August 2023, at the Maneval Allen Redmond Funeral Home, 500 West Fourth Street, Williamsport PA.

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