Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 30,028	$ 21,917
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Net loss on dispositions	389
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	1,884	89
Premiums paid on early extinguishment of debt	(850)
Depreciation and amortization	20,308	19,822
Non-cash interest and amortization of discount on senior convertible notes	3,957	4,549
Provision for doubtful accounts	3,859	3,065
Share-based compensation	2,275	1,970
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements	(154)	(37)
Provision for deferred income taxes	16,566	11,082
Estimated obligation to fund cemetery perpetual care trust	72	31
Other	(206)	(557)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Increase in receivables	(14,014)	(2,059)
Increase in prepaid expenses	(1,359)	(1,011)
(Increase) decrease in inventories and cemetery property	(2,844)	2,107
Federal income tax refunds	1,698	1,600
Decrease in accounts payable and accrued expenses	(2,029)	(5,880)
Net effect of preneed funeral production and maturities:
Decrease in preneed funeral receivables and trust investments	4,683	11,313
Decrease in deferred preneed funeral revenue	(4,082)	(2,600)
Decrease in deferred preneed funeral receipts held in trust	(1,098)	(11,690)
Net effect of preneed cemetery production and deliveries:
(Increase) decrease in preneed cemetery receivables and trust investments	(5,342)	287
Decrease in deferred preneed cemetery revenue	(1,503)	(5,692)
Increase in deferred preneed cemetery receipts held in trust	8,959	765
Increase (decrease) in other	(730)	74
Net cash provided by operating activities	60,467	49,145
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sales of certificates of deposit and marketable securities	10,000	250
Purchases of restricted cash equivalents, certificates of deposit and marketable securities	(6,912)	(15,661)
Proceeds from sale of assets	332	388
Purchase of subsidiaries, net of cash acquired	(9,110)
Additions to property and equipment	(15,688)	(11,564)
Other	103	136
Net cash used in investing activities	(21,275)	(26,451)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds of long-term debt	200,000
Repayments of long-term debt	(200,004)	(18,423)
Retirement of common stock warrants		(2,118)
Issuance of common stock	1,386	621
Retirement of call options		2,370
Purchase and retirement of common stock	(15,622)
Debt refinancing costs	(5,933)	(38)
Dividends	(8,662)	(8,278)
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements	154	37
Net cash used in financing activities	(28,681)	(25,829)
Net increase (decrease) in cash	10,511	(3,135)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	56,060	62,808
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	66,571	59,673
Cash paid during the period for:
Income taxes, net	2,215	97
Interest	13,613	12,686
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Issuance of common stock to executive officers and directors	456	414
Issuance of restricted stock, net of forfeitures	$ 924	$ 600