CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 63,331	$ 63,253
Field costs and expenses:
Total field costs and expenses	42,028	41,044
Depreciation and amortization	3,336	2,802
Regional and unallocated funeral and cemetery costs	3,049	2,525
Gross profit	21,303	22,209
Corporate costs and expenses:
General and administrative costs and expenses	9,247	7,170
Home office depreciation and amortization	398	520
Total corporate costs and expenses	9,645	7,690
Operating income	11,658	14,519
Interest expense	(2,851)	(2,550)
Accretion of discount on convertible subordinated notes	(927)	(827)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	(567)	0
Other income (loss)	305	(119)
Income before income taxes	7,618	11,023
Provision for income taxes	(3,047)	(4,605)
Net income	$ 4,571	$ 6,418
Basic earnings per common share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per Share)	$ 0.27	$ 0.35
Diluted earnings per common share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per Share)	0.27	0.34
Dividends declared per common share (in dollars per Share)	$ 0.025	$ 0.025
Weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding:
Basic (in Shares)	16,459	18,208
Diluted (in Shares)	16,650	18,804
Funeral [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 49,302	$ 50,137
Field costs and expenses:
Total field costs and expenses	27,781	28,415
Corporate costs and expenses:
Income before income taxes	16,729	17,798
Cemetery [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	14,029	13,116
Field costs and expenses:
Total field costs and expenses	7,862	7,302
Corporate costs and expenses:
Income before income taxes	$ 4,249	$ 4,046