Evelyn Susan Seeman Clegg died peacefully, surrounded by family at her home in Norwell on Oct. 16. She was 78.

She was born in the Elmhurst neighborhood of Queens in New York city on April 22, 1943 to John and Mary Seeman. She spent her formative years around New York city, graduating from Yonkers High School in 1961. She matriculated at Colby-Sawyer College in New Hampshire, then graduated from Boston University in 1965 with a degree in English. It is there that she met her future husband Winston Clegg, a lifelong seasonal resident of Chilmark.

Marriage took Evie traveling around the country to places like chilly Tomah, Wisc., and sunny Los Angeles, while serving in various legal secretary positions with major law firms. Her early work ranged from the Charles River Park development in Boston to Manchester Community College in Connecticut.

After starting a family that included two boys, she slowed down by volunteering at the South Shore Natural Science Center in Norwell. During this time, she was active with youth educational and social activities. She later served full time as the assistant to the director of the science center.

Evelyn later re-entered the legal field as a paralegal and office manager for two law firms in Plymouth County, and later for Morse Shoe/J. Baker in Canton. Hired by Stone & Webster engineering company in Boston, she served the general counsel and became the stock option administrator and assistant corporate secretary. She earned a reputation for “not letting anything get by.” She sat on the board of directors and remained with the company after it merged with The Shaw Group. She retired in 2012.

For a private person who kept to herself, she had an impressive impact on those she met. She was described as an “unstoppable force” and when she talked, people would listen.

An avid reader, culinarian, gardener and tireless interior decorator, she spent much of her free time crafting beautiful and inviting homes. She constantly updated her house in Norwell and kept the bittersweet at bay in Chilmark, her summer home. A longtime subscriber to the Boston Symphony, she was invigorated by music concerts and art exhibits, including many of the Frank Lloyd Wright houses in the eastern United States.

She loved walking to Stonewall Beach and spent many an hour exploring the natural habitats on the Island and in eastern Massachusetts.

Devoted to her parents’ family, she often make a pilgrimage to their homestead in the mountains of Pennsylvania’s Sullivan County, visiting with her aunts, uncles and cousins. Spring through fall saw her spend time living with her Island in laws, Helen and Merritt Clegg, as well as visiting Vineyard cousins and relatives.

She is survived by her husband Winston, sons Jeremy and Stephen, and by her sister Barbara and brother in law Richard Lounsbury of Carlinville, Ill.

A celebration of life will be held in Chilmark in late spring with the time and date to be announced.

Additional information and an online guestbook can be found at www.mcnamara-sparrell.com/obituary/Evelyn-Clegg

Donations can be sent to Habitat for Humanity.