BOOTHBAY HARBOR – Madelyn L. “Pal” Vincent, 88, of Boothbay Harbor and Clearwater, Fla., died Saturday, April 23, at her home in Boothbay Harbor.

She was born in Harwich, Mass., on Feb. 4, 1917, the daughter of Roger L. and Madeline (Beaupre) Bassett. She graduated as valedictorian of her class from Harwich High School in 1934 and attended Lowell Technical School and Clark University.

She married Parker H. Vincent on Sept. 23, 1937.

For many years, she was a radio commentator in Massachusetts and was active in the PTA and Girl Scouts when her childen were young. She was an Episcopalian, an avid collector of antiques and a talented handicrafter who for many years produced the Christmas fairs at Trinity Episcopal Church in Lewiston.

In 1960, she founded the Palabra Shop in Poland Spring, and in 1965 opened another Palabra Shop in Boothbay Harbor, which is now managed by daughter, Valerie S. Vincent.

Pal was an avid traveler and theater buff, spending much time in London and continental Europe during the 1970s and 1980s until her health failed. She was the author of several books and monographs, among which were “The Moses Bottle” and “The Vincent Family Cookbook.”

She is survived by daughters, Madelyn L. Huffmire of Ocean Point, Anne Durand of Arlington, Va.; an adopted daughter, Valerie S. Vincent of Boothbay Harbor; four sisters, Gloria Straughn of West Brewster, Mass., Anne Davis of Concord, N.H., Jeanette Dennis of Harwich Port, Mass., Claudette Clement of Yarmouth Port, Mass.; two brothers, Roland W. Bassett of Brewster, Mass., Royce A. Bassett of Orleans, Mass.; seven grandchildren, Jennifer (Gibbs) Merton of East Longmeadow, Mass., and Ocean Point, Sara L. Alexakos of Brighton, Mass., Theodore Huffmire of Santa Barbara, Calif., Sharon Vincent of Prescott, Ariz., Barbara Vincent-Kelsey of Paulden, Ariz., Heather Roy of Paulden, Ariz., Melissa Vincent of Chino Valley, Ariz.; and five great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her husband, Parker H. Vincent, who died in 1999, and a son, Lee Vincent, who died in 1977.