Preneed Trust Investments (Preneed cemetery trust investment security transactions) (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Fair value measurements, transfers between Level 1 and Level 2			$ 0
Preneed Cemetery Trust Investments [Member] | Interest Income and Other, Net [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Investment income	$ 474,000	$ 578,000	1,755,000	$ 1,546,000
Realized gain, net	0	126,000	2,215,000	415,000
Realized losses	0	(673,000)	(1,312,000)	(4,081,000)
Expenses and taxes	(336,000)	(139,000)	(1,213,000)	(832,000)
Increase (decrease) in deferred preneed cemetery receipts held in trust	$ (138,000)	$ 108,000	$ (1,445,000)	$ 2,952,000