Kayode Oluseun Okunoren

APRIL 19, 1981 – JANUARY 17, 2023

Kayode, fondly known as Kay, was born in Lagos, Nigeria on April 19, 1981 to Emmanuel Kayode and Olusola Idowu Okunoren. They fondly called him Kay-Kay the Gentle Giant and will continue to cherish the time they had as his parents on this earth. The second of three children, Kayode was sweet, gentle and never made a fuss. He loved to play and quietly explore the world around him.

Kayode attended Corona Primary School, Gbagada for elementary and Federal Government College, Ijanikin for middle and part of high school. In 1996, he relocated to Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA with his older sister, Adeola and younger brother, Olusola. He graduated from Willow Run High School and attended Wayne State University where he earned a Bachelors of Science in Computer Science. Kayode’s most recent role was as a Senior Application Systems Analyst with MD Anderson Cancer Center. He moved to Houston Texas in 2017 with his crazy dog Jack and was grateful for the lack of snow in the winter. He met the love of his life, Emoefe Okunoren nee Oruaga and they married shortly after in 2018.

A trio of words one could use to describe Kayode was cool, calm and collected. He was an all around great guy and had a sweet, kind and gentle soul. Kayode had an aura of peace around him with no stress, no fuss, no airs, and no ‘taking things too seriously”. Kayode was friendly and inviting and loved to keep in touch with any and everyone he met throughout the years. You could always be yourself around him. He was the favorite uncle to his nieces and nephew whom he bought electronic games, books and even sneakers throughout the year.

Kayode was a man of many interests. His sense of music was what most people didn’t know about him. He especially loved melodic music and listening to his "boy bands" (‘Nsync, Backstreet Boys, etc). He was always searching for new artists with amazing musical and melodic vibes. He especially liked Japanese music and culture which culminated in a trip in 2017 to Japan. Kayode loved all things computers and was financially savvy. While in college, he would make money by selling used clothes and sneakers on eBay. Happenings in the tech or financial world caught Kayode’s attention. He loved to research so many topics and was a personal database of information for so many of his friends and family. Kayode loved to discuss politics and current events and he was huge on sports such as basketball, football and baseball.

As the middle child, Kayode was the anchor of the family and filled in any gaps with no fanfare or need for recognition. Family was important to him and his proudest accomplishment was meeting his wife and becoming a father because secretly it was the one thing he always wanted. Kayode loved being an active dad and taking care of his daughters. Most pictures of him have one or both of them in his arms at all times.

He is survived by his:

Wife Emoefe Okunoren and two beautiful daughters Noelle (4) and Camille (2).

Parents Emmanuel Kayode and Olusola Idowu Okunoren

Sister Adeola and her husband Obiora Chukwumah

Brother Olusola Okunoren and his wife Jazzmine

Nieces and Nephew Nathan, Milan, Naomi, Haven and Luna.

We will remember the smiles, laughter and learning that he brought to us all.

The Family Asks That Guests attending the Funeral Services wear shades of BLUE

For Guests and Friends Needing Hotels here are the hotels the family has reserved:

Hotels

Hilton Garden Inn Houston Sugarland

722 Bonaventure Way

Sugar Land, TX 77479

$109 per night + tax

Group Code: Kayode

Link: https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hilton.com%2Fen%2Fbook%2Freservation%2Frooms%2F%3Fctyhocn%3DHOUSLGI%26arrivalDate%3D2023-02-10%26departureDate%3D2023-02-12%26groupCode%3Dkayode%26room1NumAdults%3D1%26displayCurrency%3DUSD%26brandCode%3DHH%26inputModule%3DHOTEL_SEARCH&data=05%7C01%7C%7Ccf1bf4b572bd4a48536708dafff5f2dc%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638103729063633083%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=ZOQwqQ797LJKSGptmnvNPUg59gQXqyrbTaEHKOBCOTo%3D&reserved=0

Courtyard by Marriott Houston Sugarland/Lakepointe

16756 Creek Bend Dr

Sugar Land, TX 77478

United States

Rate: $115 per night + tax

Group code: Kay

Link: https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1674594472975&key=GRP&app=resvlink

Homewood Suites by Hilton Stafford Sugarland

4520 Techniplex Dr

Stafford, TX 77477

United States

Rate: $99 per night + tax

Group code: Kay

Link: https://www.hilton.com/en/book/reservation/deeplink/?ctyhocn=HOUSDHW&groupCode=CHWKAY&arrivaldate=2023-02-10&departuredate=2023-02-12&cid=OM,WW,HILTONLINK,EN,DirectLink&fromId=HILTONLINKDIRECT