Mary Morrill Elwell Sands of Wayland, Lincoln and Westwood died peacefully Jan. 7 in her 92nd year with family by her side. She was the wife of Robert Elwell of Arlington and Ward Sands of Mendham, N.J., both of whom predeceased her.

Known as Polly or Squeak to her friends and Maggie to her family, she always had a smile, a pervasive laugh and an ever-present upbeat attitude toward everything and everyone.

Raised in Dedham, she graduated from Winsor School and summered in Gloucester, Wianno and South Dartmouth. She became a world-ranked tennis player and traveled the circuit with her sister, Midge, including Wimbledon and Europe for several years. She then married Bob Elwell, and lived in Washington, D.C. and Gloucester during World War II. After the war they purchased a 40-acre farm which they named Arrowhead Farm on Martha’s Vineyard, raised three boys, and according to most Islanders grew the best vegetables on the Island. After more than a decade on the Island, they moved to Wayland to start a wholesale plant-growing operation. Later they opened a retail garden center named Arrowhead Gardens. It soon became one of the largest quality garden centers in New England. She was instrumental in making the company a success, working alongside her husband seven days a week. She was one of the first to set a national trend for the industry by introducing Christmas trim-a-tree decor as an off-season niche, which soon equaled Arrowhead’s spring business.

Her dedication to her husband and her three sons was something many admired and which her family and friends will always remember about her.

She is survived by her sons, Robert and his wife Surrey of Gloucester, Christian and his wife Gaella of Conway, and William and his wife Donna of Ashfield, along with eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her sister, Marjorie Morrill Painter Whiting, and her two brothers, John and Joe Morrill.

A private memorial service will be held at a later date. Contributions in her name can be made to Niles Pond Conservancy, care of Mass Audubon, 208 South Great Road, Lincoln, MA 01773, or Hospice of the Fisher Home, 1165 North Pleasant street, Amherst, MA 01002, or to a charity of your choice.

Condolences may be sent to Christian Elwell, 888 Shelburne Falls Road, Conway, MA 01341.