Mr. Murff graduated from West Point High School in 1935. While a student at WPHS, he was an exceptionally good student, excelling in mathematics and science. Described as quiet, studious, and well liked by his fellow students, he always was very willing and eager to help fellow classmates that were less talented than he. After school, he worked in his grandfather's mill where his fine talent is mathematics and science could well be utilized.

After graduation his single most important desire was to serve his country. On January 12, 1936, six years before his death, he joined the Navy in Tacoma, Washington. His family received word on March 15, 1942 that he was missing as a result of fighting in the Pacific arena. Later, it was learned that his ship, the USS Houston, was sunk by the Japanese in the sea battles of Java.

Prior to being sunk, the USS Houston had been in heavy action in the Pacific area fighting off Japanese bombing squads attacking a troop convoy under escort of the Houston. On the night of February 28, 1942, the Houston, the Perth (Australian), the Everton (Dutch), and other members of an allied strike force were attempting to escape through the Sunda Strait into the Indian Ocean. As the Allied Force was moving at night, they ran into a 100 ship convoy of Japanese transports, cargo ships, battleships, and cruisers. The enemy was traveling in two convoys, and the Allied Force was in the middle of the Japanese conveys when they opened fire on the Japanese. The USS Houston and the Perth sand 22 enemy ships before they were sunk under heavy fire from the Japanese battleships and cruisers. The sky was lit up from explosions. When the end came as the water closed over their batteries, the Houston had only 2 star shells left and the Perth had 6 shells, but no firing charges. As the USS Houston was sinking the engine room was flooding and the doors were locked trapping Seaman Murff and others to go to the bottom of the ocean with the ship.

The first memorial service for the first serviceman to die in World War II was held on April 19, 1942, at the Presbyterian Church in West Point. He was survived by his parents and sister Elsie Murff Montgomery.