CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Accounts receivable, allowance for bad debts	$ 986	$ 1,127
Preneed receivables, allowance for bad debts	1,967	2,339
Preneed trust receivables, allowance for contract cancellations	416	396
Accumulated depreciation of property, plant and equipment	100,857	95,249
Cemetery property, accumulated amortization	$ 29,355	$ 26,875
Common stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	80,000,000	80,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	22,458,450	22,434,609
Treasury stock, shares	5,126,636	3,921,651