GALVESTON, TEXAS - A white oak that was planted after a 1900 hurricane in Southeast Texas but killed decades later by Hurricane Ike has a new public life.

The Galveston County Daily News reported Wednesday that the remains of the tree are being carved into artwork to promote learning.

Ike swamped parts of Galveston in 2008, with the winds and storm surge blamed for killing about 40,000 trees.

Earl Sampson Jones of Galveston was hired to create the sculpture for Adoue (uh-DOO') Park, named for educator Fannie Kempner Adoue.

Jones says the tree will portray the woman reading to her grandchildren.

The Galveston Island Tree Conservancy and Adoue's family commissioned Jones to do the sculpture.

Galveston rebuilt itself after the 1900 hurricane, with a death toll of about 6,000.