Carriage Services (CSV) 10-Q 26 Apr 16 2016 Q1 Quarterly report Financial data

Document and Entity Information

Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Apr. 22, 2016
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	CARRIAGE SERVICES INC
Entity Central Index Key	1,016,281
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2016
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2,016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		16,630,583

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 871	$ 535
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for bad debts of $1,054 in 2015 and $943 in 2016	17,911	18,181
Inventories	5,782	5,654
Prepaid expenses	4,770	4,684
Other current assets	3,853	4,707
Total current assets	33,187	33,761
Preneed cemetery trust investments	60,432	63,291
Preneed funeral trust investments	83,132	85,553
Preneed receivables, net of allowance for bad debts of $2,042 in 2015 and $2,046 in 2016	28,224	27,998
Receivables from preneed trusts	13,050	13,544
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $103,306 in 2015 and $105,016 in 2016	216,864	214,874
Cemetery property, net of accumulated amortization of $30,289 in 2015 and $31,282 in 2016	75,784	75,597
Goodwill	264,416	264,416
Deferred charges and other non-current assets	10,748	10,978
Cemetery perpetual care trust investments	41,341	43,127
Total assets	827,178	833,139
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations	12,533	12,236
Accounts payable	6,162	7,917
Other liabilities	2,535	524
Accrued liabilities	14,623	16,541
Total current liabilities	35,853	37,218
Long-term debt, net of current portion	139,413	103,495
Revolving credit facility	52,633	91,514
Convertible subordinated notes due 2021	116,278	115,227
Obligations under capital leases, net of current portion	2,816	2,875
Deferred preneed cemetery revenue	56,692	56,721
Deferred preneed funeral revenue	31,209	31,748
Deferred tax liability	38,968	39,956
Other long-term liabilities	5,782	5,531
Deferred preneed cemetery receipts held in trust	60,432	63,291
Deferred preneed funeral receipts held in trust	83,132	85,553
Care trusts’ corpus	41,292	42,416
Total liabilities	$ 664,500	$ 675,545
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock, $.01 par value; 80,000,000 shares authorized; 22,497,873 and 22,481,301 issued as of December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016, respectively	$ 225	$ 225
Additional paid-in capital	214,763	214,250
Retained earnings	7,956	3,385
Treasury stock, at cost; 5,849,316 shares at December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016.	(60,266)	(60,266)
Total stockholders’ equity	162,678	157,594
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ 827,178	$ 833,139

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Pa

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Accounts receivable, allowance for bad debts	$ 943	$ 1,054
Preneed receivables, allowance for bad debts	2,046	2,042
Accumulated depreciation of property, plant and equipment	105,016	103,306
Cemetery property, net of accumulated amortization	$ 31,282	$ 30,289
Common stock, par value (in dollars per Share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	80,000,000	80,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	22,481,301	22,497,873
Treasury stock, shares	5,849,316	5,849,316

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPER

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

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 4,571	$ 6,418
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Net gain on sale and disposal of assets	(187)	0
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	567	0
Depreciation and amortization	3,734	3,322
Amortization of deferred financing costs	221	226
Accretion of discount on convertible subordinated notes	927	827
Provision for losses on accounts receivable	523	424
Stock-based compensation expense	1,297	1,089
Deferred income tax expense	379	1,559
Changes in operating assets and liabilities that provided (required) cash:
Accounts and preneed receivables	(479)	56
Inventories and other current assets	(727)	3,224
Deferred charges and other	230	111
Preneed funeral and cemetery trust investments	7,560	(760)
Accounts payable	(1,755)	(9)
Accrued and other liabilities	(147)	(5,020)
Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery revenue	(568)	(82)
Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust	(6,404)	1,237
Net cash provided by operating activities	9,742	12,622
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions and land for new construction	(2,685)	(4,250)
Purchase of land and buildings previously leased	0	(600)
Net proceeds from the sale of assets	555	0
Capital expenditures	(3,595)	(5,798)
Net cash used in investing activities	(5,725)	(10,648)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on the revolving credit facility	11,500	10,600
Payments against the revolving credit facility	(50,100)	(10,100)
Borrowings on the term loan	39,063	0
Payments against the term loan	(2,813)	(2,344)
Payments on other long-term debt and obligations under capital leases	(321)	(370)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options and employee stock purchase plan contributions	228	212
Dividends on common stock	(415)	(463)
Payment of loan origination costs related to the credit facility	(717)	(13)
Excess tax benefit (deficiency) of equity compensation	(106)	408
Net cash used in financing activities	(3,681)	(2,070)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	336	(96)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	535	$ 535
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 871

Basis of Presentation and Summa

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES The Company Carriage Services, Inc. (“Carriage”, the “Company”, “we”, “us” or “our”) is a leading provider of deathcare services and merchandise in the United States. As of March 31, 2016 , we operated 167 funeral homes in 27 states and 32 cemeteries in 11 states. Our operations are reported in two business segments: Funeral Home Operations and Cemetery Operations. Funeral homes are principally service businesses that provide funeral services (traditional burial and cremation) and sell related merchandise, such as caskets and urns. Cemeteries are primarily sales businesses that provide interment rights (grave sites and mausoleums) and related merchandise, such as markers and memorials. Principles of Consolidation and Interim Condensed Disclosures Our unaudited consolidated financial statements include the Company and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. Our interim consolidated financial statements are unaudited but include all adjustments, which consist of normal, recurring accruals, that are necessary for a fair presentation of our financial position and results of operations as of and for the interim periods presented. Our unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in a manner consistent with the accounting principles described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 unless otherwise disclosed herein, and should be read in conjunction therewith. Reclassifications Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period amounts to conform to the current period financial statement presentation with no effect on our previously reported results of operations, consolidated financial position, or cash flows. Cash and Cash Equivalents We consider all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Use of Estimates The preparation of our Consolidated Financial Statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates and judgments, including those related to revenue recognition, realization of accounts receivable, goodwill, intangible assets, property and equipment and deferred tax assets and liabilities. We base our estimates on historical experience, third-party data and assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. The results of these considerations form the basis for making judgments about the amount and timing of revenues and expenses, the carrying value of assets and the recorded amounts of liabilities. Actual results may differ from these estimates and such estimates may change if the underlying conditions or assumptions change. Historical performance should not be viewed as indicative of future performance, as there can be no assurance that our results of operations will be consistent from year to year. Funeral and Cemetery Operations We record the revenue from sales of funeral and cemetery merchandise and services when the merchandise is delivered or the service is performed. Sales of cemetery interment rights are recorded as revenue in accordance with the retail land sales provisions for accounting for sales of real estate. This method provides for the recognition of revenue in the period in which the customer’s cumulative payments exceed 10% of the contract price related to the interment right. Costs related to the sales of interment rights, which include real property and other costs related to cemetery development activities, are charged to operations using the specific identification method in the period in which the sale of the interment right is recognized as revenue. We recorded amortization expense for cemetery property of approximately $0.8 million and $1.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2016 , respectively. Sales taxes collected are recognized on a net basis in our Consolidated Financial Statements. Allowances for bad debts and customer cancellations are provided at the date that the sale is recognized as revenue and are based on our historical experience and the current economic environment. We also monitor changes in delinquency rates and provide additional bad debt and cancellation reserves when warranted. When preneed sales of funeral services and merchandise are funded through third-party insurance policies, we earn a commission on the sale of the policies. Insurance commissions are recognized as revenues at the point at which the commission is no longer subject to refund, which is typically one year after the policy is issued. Accounts receivable included approximately $8.2 million and $7.4 million of funeral receivables at December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016 , respectively, and $9.7 million and $10.2 million of cemetery receivables at December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016 , respectively. For 2015 and 2016, accounts receivable also included minor amounts of other receivables. Non-current preneed receivables represented the payments expected to be received beyond one year from the balance sheet date. Non-current preneed receivables consisted of approximately $7.3 million of funeral receivables at December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016 and $20.7 million and $20.9 million of cemetery receivables at December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016 , respectively. Bad debt expense totaled approximately $0.4 million and $0.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2016 . Property, Plant and Equipment Property, plant and equipment (including equipment under capital leases) are stated at cost. The costs of ordinary maintenance and repairs are charged to operations as incurred, while renewals and betterments are capitalized. Depreciation of property, plant and equipment (including equipment under capital leases) is computed based on the straight-line method. Property, plant and equipment was comprised of the following at December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016 : December 31, 2015 March 31, 2016 (in thousands) Land $ 65,433 $ 67,868 Buildings and improvements 180,804 180,711 Furniture, equipment and automobiles 71,943 73,301 Property, plant and equipment, at cost 318,180 321,880 Less: accumulated depreciation (103,306 ) (105,016 ) Property, plant and equipment, net $ 214,874 $ 216,864 We recorded depreciation expense of approximately $2.6 million and $2.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2016 , respectively. During the first quarter of 2016, we acquired real estate for $2.7 million for funeral home expansion projects. Stock Plans and Stock-Based Compensation We have stock-based employee and director compensation plans under which we may grant restricted stock, stock options, performance awards and our employee stock purchase plan under which stock may be purchased. We recognize compensation expense in an amount equal to the fair value of the share-based awards expected to vest over the requisite service period. Fair value is determined on the date of the grant. The fair value of options or awards containing options is determined using the Black-Scholes valuation model. The fair value of the performance awards is determined using a Monte-Carlo simulation pricing model. See Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for additional information on our stock-based compensation plans. Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs Effective January 1, 2016, we adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board's (“FASB”) new guidance on simplifying the presentation of debt issuance costs. In April 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”), Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30) , which requires that entities that have historically presented debt issuance costs as an asset, related to a recognized debt liability, will be required to present those costs as a direct deduction from the carrying value of the related debt liability. This presentation will result in debt issuance costs being presented in the same way debt discounts have historically been addressed. Debt issuances costs of $4.2 million and $4.1 million have been presented as a deduction from the carrying value of the related liabilities in our Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016 , respectively. Business Combinations Effective January 1, 2016, we adopted the FASB new guidance on simplifying the accounting for measurement-period adjustments for Business Combinations. In September 2015, the FASB issued ASU, Business Combinations (Topic 805) , which requires that an acquirer recognize adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. These include the effect on earnings of changes in depreciation, amortization, or other income effects as if the accounting had been completed at the acquisition date. The entity is required to present separately on the face of the income statement or disclose in the notes the portion of the amount recorded in the current period earnings by line item that would have been recorded in previous reporting periods if the adjustment to the provisional amounts had been recognized as of the acquisition date. Our adoption of this ASU did not have a material effect on our financial statements. Extraordinary and Unusual Items Effective January 1, 2016, we adopted the FASB new guidance on extraordinary and unusual items. In January 2015, the FASB issued ASU, Extraordinary and Unusual Items (Subtopic 225-20) . This ASU eliminates the concept of reporting extraordinary items. Preparers will not have to assess whether a particular event or transaction is extraordinary and likewise, auditors and regulators no longer need to evaluate whether a preparer treated an unusual and/or infrequent item appropriately. The presentation and disclosure guidance for items that are unusual in nature or occur infrequently will be retained and will be expanded to include such items. Our adoption of this ASU did not have a material effect on our financial statements. Subsequent Events Management evaluated events and transactions during the period subsequent to March 31, 2016 through the date the financial statements were issued for potential recognition or disclosure in the accompanying financial statements covered by this report. See Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for additional information regarding subsequent events.

Recently Issued Accounting Stan

Recently Issued Accounting Standards	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Accounting Changes and Error Corrections [Abstract]
RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS	RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS Simplifying Share-Based Payment Accounting In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718). This ASU applies to all entities that issue share-based payment awards to their employees. The amendments in this ASU involve several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with earlier application permitted for all entities. Amendments related to the presentation of employee taxes paid on the statement of cash flows when an employer withholds shares to meet the minimum statutory withholding requirement should be applied retrospectively. Amendments requiring recognition of excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies in the income statement and the practical expedient for estimating expected term should be applied prospectively. An entity may elect to apply the amendments related to the presentation of excess tax benefits on the statement of cash flows using either a prospective transition method or a retrospective transition method. We plan to adopt the provisions of this ASU for our fiscal year beginning January 1, 2017 and are currently evaluating the impact the adoption of this new accounting standard will have on our Consolidated Financial Statements. Leases In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU, Leases (Topic 842). This ASU addresses certain aspects of recognition, presentation, and disclosure of leases and apply to all entities that that enter into a lease, with some specified scope exemptions. The amendments in this ASU aims to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with earlier application permitted for all entities. Both lessees and lessors are required to recognize and measure leases at the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach. We plan to adopt the provisions of this ASU for our fiscal year beginning January 1, 2019 and are currently evaluating the impact the adoption of this new accounting standard will have on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

Preneed Trust Investments

Preneed Trust Investments	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Preneed Trust Investments [Abstract]
PRENEED TRUST INVESTMENTS	PRENEED TRUST INVESTMENTS Preneed Cemetery Trust Investments Preneed cemetery trust investments represent trust fund assets that we are generally permitted to withdraw when the merchandise or services are provided. The components of Preneed cemetery trust investments on our Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016 were as follows (in thousands): December 31, 2015 March 31, 2016 Preneed cemetery trust investments, at market value $ 65,486 $ 62,551 Less: allowance for contract cancellation (2,195 ) (2,119 ) Preneed cemetery trust investments, net $ 63,291 $ 60,432 Upon cancellation of a preneed cemetery contract, a customer is generally entitled to receive a refund of the corpus, and in some cases, some or all of the earnings held in trust. In certain jurisdictions, we are obligated to fund any shortfall if the amounts deposited by the customer exceed the funds in trust, including some or all investment income. As a result, when realized or unrealized losses of a trust result in the trust being under-funded, we assess whether we are responsible for replenishing the corpus of the trust, in which case a loss provision is recorded. At March 31, 2016 , our preneed cemetery trust investments were not under-funded. Earnings from our preneed cemetery trust investments are recognized in revenue when a service is performed or merchandise is delivered. Trust management fees charged by our wholly-owned registered investment advisor (“CSV RIA”) are included as revenue in the period in which they are earned. Where quoted prices are available in an active market, investments held by the trusts are classified as Level 1 investments pursuant to the three-level valuation hierarchy. Our Level 1 investments include cash and common stock. Where quoted market prices are not available for the specific security, fair values are estimated by using quoted prices of similar securities in active markets or other inputs other than quoted prices that can corroborate observable market data. These investments are fixed income securities including municipal bonds, foreign debt, corporate debt, preferred stocks and mortgage backed securities, all of which are classified within Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy. We review and update our fair value hierarchy classifications quarterly. There were no transfers between Levels 1 and 2 in the three months ended March 31, 2016 . There are no Level 3 investments in the preneed cemetery trust investment portfolio. See Note 7 for further information of the fair value measurement and the three-level hierarchy. The cost and fair market values associated with preneed cemetery trust investments at March 31, 2016 are detailed below (in thousands): Fair Value Hierarchy Level Cost Unrealized Gains Unrealized Losses Fair Market Value Cash and money market accounts 1 $ 4,611 $ — $ — $ 4,611 Fixed income securities: Municipal bonds 2 457 — (83 ) 374 Foreign debt 2 7,437 110 (937 ) 6,610 Corporate debt 2 25,871 699 (3,238 ) 23,332 Preferred stock 2 16,184 5 (1,406 ) 14,783 Common stock 1 15,006 162 (4,403 ) 10,765 Mutual Funds: Fixed Income 2 $ 1,078 $ 49 $ — $ 1,127 Trust securities $ 70,644 $ 1,025 $ (10,067 ) $ 61,602 Accrued investment income $ 949 $ 949 Preneed cemetery trust investments $ 62,551 Market value as a percentage of cost 87.2 % The estimated maturities of the fixed income securities included above are as follows (in thousands): Due in one year or less $ 127 Due in one to five years 8,546 Due in five to ten years 4,591 Thereafter 31,835 Total fixed income securities $ 45,099 The cost and fair market values associated with preneed cemetery trust investments at December 31, 2015 are detailed below (in thousands): Fair Value Hierarchy Level Cost Unrealized Gains Unrealized Losses Fair Market Value Cash and money market accounts 1 $ 8,296 $ — $ — $ 8,296 Fixed income securities: Municipal bonds 2 458 — (63 ) 395 Foreign debt 2 4,803 — (695 ) 4,108 Corporate debt 2 22,968 85 (4,279 ) 18,774 Preferred stock 2 16,236 29 (885 ) 15,380 Mortgage backed securities 2 — — — — Common stock 1 20,387 682 (3,161 ) 17,908 Trust securities $ 73,148 $ 796 $ (9,083 ) $ 64,861 Accrued investment income $ 625 $ 625 Preneed cemetery trust investments $ 65,486 Market value as a percentage of cost 88.7 % We determine whether or not the assets in the preneed cemetery trust investments have an other-than-temporary impairment on a security-by-security basis. This assessment is made based upon a number of criteria including the length of time a security has been in a loss position, changes in market conditions and concerns related to the specific issuer. If a loss is considered to be other-than-temporary, the cost basis of the security is adjusted downward to its fair market value. Any reduction in the cost basis of the investment due to an other-than-temporary impairment is likewise recorded as a reduction in Deferred preneed cemetery receipts held in trust on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. We recorded a $0.7 million impairment in the first quarter of 2015 and 2016 for other-than-temporary declines in the fair value related to unrealized losses on certain investments. There is no impact on earnings until such time that the loss is realized in the trusts, allocated to the preneed contracts and the services are performed or the merchandise is delivered causing the contract to be withdrawn from the trust in accordance with state regulations. At March 31, 2016 , we had certain investments within our preneed cemetery trust investments that had tax lots in loss positions for more than one year. Based on our analyses of these securities, the companies’ businesses and current market conditions, we determined that these investment losses were temporary in nature. Our cemetery merchandise and service trust investment unrealized losses, their associated fair market values, and the duration of unrealized losses as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , are shown in the following tables (in thousands): March 31, 2016 In Loss Position Less than 12 months In Loss Position Greater than 12 months Total Fair Market Value Unrealized Losses Fair Market Value Unrealized Losses Fair Market Value Unrealized Losses Fixed income securities: Municipal bonds $ 142 $ (28 ) $ 232 $ (55 ) $ 374 $ (83 ) Foreign debt 2,671 (395 ) 1,984 (542 ) 4,655 (937 ) Corporate debt 5,449 (853 ) 8,034 (2,385 ) 13,483 (3,238 ) Preferred stock 6,613 (566 ) 7,730 (840 ) 14,343 (1,406 ) Common stock 6,088 (2,602 ) 3,278 (1,801 ) 9,366 (4,403 ) Total temporary impaired securities $ 20,963 $ (4,444 ) $ 21,258 $ (5,623 ) $ 42,221 $ (10,067 ) December 31, 2015 In Loss Position Less than 12 months In Loss Position Greater than 12 months Total Fair Market Value Unrealized Losses Fair Market Value Unrealized Losses Fair Market Value Unrealized Losses Fixed income securities: Municipal bonds $ 395 $ (63 ) $ — $ — $ 395 $ (63 ) Foreign debt $ 3,680 $ (384 ) $ 406 $ (312 ) $ 4,086 $ (696 ) Corporate debt 14,468 (2,992 ) 3,056 (1,287 ) 17,524 (4,279 ) Preferred stock 10,285 (436 ) 5,168 (448 ) 15,453 (884 ) Common stock 12,029 (1,989 ) 3,564 (1,172 ) 15,593 (3,161 ) Total temporary impaired securities $ 40,857 $ (5,864 ) $ 12,194 $ (3,219 ) $ 53,051 $ (9,083 ) Preneed cemetery trust investment security transactions recorded in Interest expense on our Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2016 were as follows (in thousands): For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 2016 Investment income $ 517 $ 291 Realized gains 358 108 Realized losses (798 ) (2,480 ) Expenses and taxes (319 ) (343 ) Decrease in deferred preneed cemetery receipts held in trust 242 2,424 $ — $ — Purchases and sales of investments in the preneed cemetery trusts were as follows (in thousands): For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 2016 Purchases $ (7,008 ) $ (10,892 ) Sales $ 2,752 $ 7,354 Preneed Funeral Trust Investments Preneed funeral trust investments represent trust fund assets that we are permitted to withdraw as services and merchandise are provided to customers. Preneed funeral contracts are secured by funds paid by the customer to us. Preneed funeral trust investments are reduced by the trust earnings we have been allowed to withdraw prior to our performance and amounts received from customers that are not required to be deposited into trust, pursuant to various state laws. The components of Preneed funeral trust investments on our Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016 were as follows (in thousands): December 31, 2015 March 31, 2016 Preneed funeral trust investments, at market value $ 88,444 $ 85,958 Less: allowance for contract cancellation (2,891 ) (2,826 ) Preneed funeral trust investments, net $ 85,553 $ 83,132 Upon cancellation of a preneed funeral contract, a customer is generally entitled to receive a refund of the corpus and some or all of the earnings held in trust. In certain jurisdictions, we are obligated to fund any shortfall if the amounts deposited by the customer exceed the funds in trust, including some or all investment income. As a result, when realized or unrealized losses of a trust result in the trust being under-funded, we assess whether we are responsible for replenishing the corpus of the trust, in which case a loss provision is recorded. At March 31, 2016 , our preneed funeral trust investments were not under-funded. Earnings from our preneed funeral trust investments are recognized in revenue when a service is performed or merchandise is delivered. Trust management fees charged by our wholly-owned registered investment advisor are included in revenue in the period in which they are earned. Where quoted prices are available in an active market, investments held by the trusts are classified as Level 1 investments pursuant to the three-level valuation hierarchy. Our Level 1 investments include cash, U.S. treasury debt, common stock and equity mutual funds. Where quoted market prices are not available for the specific security, then fair values are estimated by using quoted prices of similar securities in active markets or other inputs other than quoted prices that can corroborate observable market data. These investments are fixed income securities including municipal bonds, foreign debt, corporate debt, preferred stocks, mortgage backed securities and fixed income mutual funds and other investments, all of which are classified within Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy. We review and update our fair value hierarchy classifications quarterly. There were no other transfers between Levels 1 and 2 for the three months ended March 31, 2016 . There are no Level 3 investments in the preneed funeral trust investment portfolio. See Note 7 for further information of the fair value measurement and the three-level hierarchy. The cost and fair market values associated with preneed funeral trust investments at March 31, 2016 are detailed below (in thousands): Fair Value Hierarchy Level Cost Unrealized Gains Unrealized Losses Fair Market Value Cash and money market accounts 1 $ 17,828 $ — $ — $ 17,828 Fixed income securities: U.S. treasury debt 1 1,491 48 — 1,539 Municipal bonds 2 478 — (87 ) 391 Foreign debt 2 7,823 120 (971 ) 6,972 Corporate debt 2 27,648 793 (3,412 ) 25,029 Preferred stock 2 17,464 131 (1,455 ) 16,140 Mortgage backed securities 2 267 5 (4 ) 268 Common stock 1 15,528 160 (4,597 ) 11,091 Mutual funds: Fixed income 2 2,118 54 (51 ) 2,121 Other investments 2 3,562 — (24 ) 3,538 Trust securities $ 94,207 $ 1,311 $ (10,601 ) $ 84,917 Accrued investment income $ 1,041 $ 1,041 Preneed funeral trust investments $ 85,958 Market value as a percentage of cost 90.1 % The estimated maturities of the fixed income securities included above are as follows (in thousands): Due in one year or less $ 137 Due in one to five years 9,641 Due in five to ten years 5,682 Thereafter 34,879 Total $ 50,339 The cost and fair market values associated with preneed funeral trust investments at December 31, 2015 are detailed below (in thousands): Fair Value Hierarchy Level Cost Unrealized Gains Unrealized Losses Fair Market Value Cash and money market accounts 1 $ 21,458 $ — $ — $ 21,458 Fixed income securities: U.S. treasury debt 1 1,492 24 (12 ) 1,504 Municipal bonds 2 478 — (66 ) 412 Foreign debt 2 4,938 — (711 ) 4,227 Corporate debt 2 24,787 133 (4,711 ) 20,209 Preferred stock 2 17,496 158 (914 ) 16,740 Mortgage backed securities 1 273 4 (4 ) 273 Common stock 20,864 738 (3,114 ) 18,488 Mutual funds: Equity 1 — — — — Fixed income 2 $ 959 $ — $ (82 ) $ 877 Other investments 2 $ 3,598 $ — $ (30 ) $ 3,568 Trust securities $ 96,343 $ 1,057 $ (9,644 ) $ 87,756 Accrued investment income 688 $ 688 Preneed funeral trust investments $ 88,444 Market value as a percentage of cost 91.1 % We determine whether or not the assets in the preneed funeral trust investments have other-than-temporary impairments on a security-by-security basis. This assessment is made based upon a number of criteria including the length of time a security has been in a loss position, changes in market conditions and concerns related to the specific issuer. If a loss is considered to be other-than-temporary, the cost basis of the security is adjusted downward to its fair market value. Any reduction in the cost basis of the investment due to an other-than-temporary impairment is likewise recorded as a reduction to Deferred preneed funeral receipts held in trust on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. We recorded a $0.8 million impairment in the first quarter of 2016 for other-than-temporary declines in the fair value related to unrealized losses on certain investments. We recorded a $0.6 million impairment in the first quarter of 2015 for other-than-temporary declines in the fair value related to unrealized losses on certain investments. There is no impact on earnings until such time that the loss is realized in the trusts, allocated to preneed contracts and the services are performed or the merchandise is delivered causing the contract to be withdrawn from the trust in accordance with state regulations. At March 31, 2016 , we had certain investments within our preneed funeral trust investments that had tax lots in loss positions for more than one year. Based on our analyses of these securities, the companies’ businesses and current market conditions, we determined that these investment losses were temporary in nature. Our preneed funeral trust investment unrealized losses, their associated fair market values, and the duration of unrealized losses as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 are shown in the following tables (in thousands): March 31, 2016 In Loss Position Less than 12 months In Loss Position Greater than 12 months Total Fair Market Value Unrealized Losses Fair Market Value Unrealized Losses Fair Market Value Unrealized Losses Fixed income securities: Municipal bonds $ 139 $ (27 ) $ 252 $ (60 ) $ 391 $ (87 ) Foreign debt 2,692 (378 ) 2,158 (593 ) 4,850 (971 ) Corporate debt 5,470 (825 ) 8,783 (2,587 ) 14,253 (3,412 ) Preferred stock 6,384 (537 ) 8,449 (918 ) 14,833 (1,455 ) Mortgage backed securities 102 (3 ) 15 (1 ) 117 (4 ) Mutual funds: Equity 6,087 (2,620 ) 3,594 (1,977 ) 9,681 (4,597 ) Fixed income 46 (1 ) 818 (50 ) 864 (51 ) Other investments — — 11 (24 ) 11 (24 ) Total temporary impaired securities $ 20,920 $ (4,391 ) $ 24,080 $ (6,210 ) $ 45,000 $ (10,601 ) December 31, 2015 In Loss Position Less than 12 months In Loss Position Greater than 12 months Total Fair Market Value Unrealized Losses Fair Market Value Unrealized Losses Fair Market Value Unrealized Losses Fixed income securities: U.S. debt $ — $ — $ 1,504 $ (12 ) $ 1,504 $ (12 ) Municipal bonds 413 (66 ) — — 413 (66 ) Foreign debt 3,763 (392 ) 416 (319 ) 4,179 (711 ) Corporate debt 15,929 (3,294 ) 3,364 (1,417 ) 19,293 (4,711 ) Preferred stock 10,623 (451 ) 5,338 (463 ) 15,961 (914 ) Mortgage backed securities — — 272 (4 ) 272 (4 ) Mutual funds: Equity 11,848 (1,959 ) 3,510 (1,154 ) 15,358 (3,113 ) Equity and other — — — — — — Fixed income 1 — 876 (82 ) 877 (82 ) Other investments — — 42 (31 ) 42 (31 ) Total temporary impaired securities 42,577 (6,162 ) 15,322 (3,482 ) 57,899 (9,644 ) Preneed funeral trust investment security transactions recorded in Interest expense on the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2016 were as follows (in thousands): For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 2016 Investment income $ 556 $ 340 Realized gains 294 144 Realized losses (625 ) (2,396 ) Expenses and taxes (260 ) (247 ) Decrease in deferred preneed funeral receipts held in trust 35 2,159 $ — $ — Purchases and sales of investments in the preneed funeral trusts were as follows (in thousands): For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 2016 Purchases $ (5,489 ) $ (11,407 ) Sales $ 2,302 $ 7,458

Preneed Cemetery Receivables

Preneed Cemetery Receivables	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Preneed Cemetery Receivables [Abstract]
PRENEED CEMETERY RECEIVABLES	. PRENEED CEMETERY RECEIVABLES Preneed sales of cemetery interment rights and related products and services are usually financed through interest-bearing installment sales contracts, generally with terms of up to five years with such interest income reflected as Preneed cemetery finance charges . In substantially all cases, we receive an initial down payment at the time the contract is signed. At March 31, 2016 , our total financed preneed receivables was $36.8 million , of which $27.0 million and $9.8 million were for cemetery interment rights and for merchandise and services respectively. These amounts are presented on our consolidated balance sheet as $11.2 million within Accounts receivable and $25.6 million within Preneed receivables . The unearned finance charges associated with these receivables were $5.2 million and $5.3 million at December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016 , respectively. We determine an allowance for customer cancellations and refunds on contracts in which revenue has been recognized on sales of cemetery interment rights. We have a collections policy where past due notifications are sent to the customer beginning at 15 days past due and periodically thereafter until the contract is cancelled or payment is received. We reserve 100% of the receivables on contracts in which the revenue has been recognized and payments are 90 days past due or more, which was approximately 4.9% of the total receivables on recognized sales at March 31, 2016 . An allowance is recorded at the date that the contract is executed and periodically adjusted thereafter based upon actual collection experience at the business level. For the three months ended March 31, 2016 , the change in the allowance for contract cancellations was as follows (in thousands): March 31, 2016 Beginning balance $ 1,765 Write-offs and cancellations (385 ) Provision 399 Ending balance $ 1,779 The aging of past due financing receivables as of March 31, 2016 was as follows (in thousands): 31-60 Past Due 61-90 Past Due 91-120 Past Due >120 Past Due Total Past Due Current Total Financing Receivables Recognized revenue $ 569 $ 351 $ 185 $ 1,096 $ 2,201 $ 23,970 $ 26,171 Deferred revenue 206 119 84 351 760 9,906 10,666 Total contracts $ 775 $ 470 $ 269 $ 1,447 $ 2,961 $ 33,876 $ 36,837

Receivables from Preneed Trusts

Receivables from Preneed Trusts	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Receivables From Preneed Trusts [Abstract]
RECEIVABLES FROM PRENEED TRUSTS	. RECEIVABLES FROM PRENEED TRUSTS The receivables from preneed trusts represent assets in trusts which are controlled and operated by third parties in which we do not have a controlling financial interest ( less than 50% ) in the trust assets. We account for these investments at cost. As of December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016 , receivables from preneed trusts were as follows (in thousands): December 31, 2015 March 31, 2016 Preneed trust funds, at cost $ 13,963 $ 13,454 Less: allowance for contract cancellation (419 ) (404 ) Receivables from preneed trusts, net $ 13,544 $ 13,050 The following summary reflects the composition of the assets held in trust and controlled by third parties to satisfy our future obligations under preneed arrangements related to the preceding contracts at December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016 . The cost basis includes reinvested interest and dividends that have been earned on the trust assets. Fair value includes the unrealized gains and losses on trust assets. Historical Cost Basis Fair Value (in thousands) As of December 31, 2015 Cash and cash equivalents $ 2,898 $ 2,898 Fixed income investments 8,423 8,426 Mutual funds and common stocks 2,626 2,625 Annuities 16 16 Total $ 13,963 $ 13,965 Historical Cost Basis Fair Value (in thousands) As of March 31, 2016 Cash and cash equivalents $ 2,989 $ 2,989 Fixed income investments 7,941 7,941 Mutual funds and common stocks 2,508 2,555 Annuities 16 16 Total $ 13,454 $ 13,501

Cemetery Perpetual Care Trust I

Cemetery Perpetual Care Trust Investments	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Cemetery Perpetual Care Trust Investments [Abstract]
CEMETERY PERPETUAL CARE TRUST INVESTMENTS	CEMETERY PERPETUAL CARE TRUST INVESTMENTS Care trusts’ corpus on our Consolidated Balance Sheets represent the corpus of those trusts plus undistributed income. The components of Care trusts’ corpus as of December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016 were as follows (in thousands): December 31, 2015 March 31, 2016 Trust assets, at market value $ 43,127 $ 41,341 Obligations due from trust (711 ) (49 ) Care trusts’ corpus $ 42,416 $ 41,292 We are required by various state laws to pay a portion of the proceeds from the sale of cemetery property interment rights into perpetual care trust funds. The income earned from these perpetual care trusts offsets maintenance expenses for cemetery property and memorials. This trust fund income is recognized, as earned, in Revenues from cemetery operations . Trust management fees charged by CSV RIA are included in revenue in the period in which they are earned. At March 31, 2016 , our cemetery perpetual care trust investments were not under-funded Where quoted prices are available in an active market, investments held by the trusts are classified as Level 1 investments pursuant to the three-level valuation hierarchy. Our Level 1 investments include cash and common stock. Where quoted market prices are not available for the specific security, then fair values are estimated by using quoted prices of similar securities in active markets or other inputs other than quoted prices that can corroborate observable market data. These investments are municipal bonds, foreign debt, corporate debt, preferred stock and fixed income mutual funds, all of which are classified within Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy. There were no transfers between Levels 1 and 2 in the three months ended March 31, 2016 . There are no Level 3 investments in the cemetery perpetual care trust investment portfolio. See Note 7 for further information of the fair value measurement and the three-level valuation hierarchy. The following table reflects the cost and fair market values associated with the trust investments held in perpetual care trust funds at March 31, 2016 (in thousands): Fair Value Hierarchy Level Cost Unrealized Gains Unrealized Losses Fair Market Value Cash and money market accounts 1 $ 3,085 $ — $ — $ 3,085 Fixed income securities: Municipal bonds 2 327 — (60 ) 267 Foreign debt 2 4,810 66 (633 ) 4,243 Corporate debt 2 17,495 422 (2,354 ) 15,563 Preferred stock 2 11,341 4 (988 ) 10,357 Common stock 1 9,151 96 (2,722 ) 6,525 Mutual Funds: Fixed Income 2 $ 695 $ 34 $ — $ 729 Trust securities $ 46,904 $ 622 $ (6,757 ) $ 40,769 Accrued investment income $ 572 $ 572 Cemetery perpetual care investments $ 41,341 Market value as a percentage of cost 86.9 % The estimated maturities of the fixed income securities included above are as follows (in thousands): Due in one year or less $ 77 Due in one to five years 5,405 Due in five to ten years 3,209 Thereafter 21,739 Total fixed income securities $ 30,430 The following table reflects the cost and fair market values associated with the trust investments held in perpetual care trust funds at December 31, 2015 (in thousands): Fair Value Hierarchy Level Cost Unrealized Gains Unrealized Losses Fair Market Value Cash and money market accounts 1 $ 5,472 $ — $ — $ 5,472 Fixed income securities: Municipal bonds 2 325 — (45 ) 280 Foreign debt 2 3,232 — (480 ) 2,752 Corporate debt 2 16,216 57 (3,094 ) 13,179 Preferred stock 2 11,263 20 (611 ) 10,672 Common stock 1 11,945 393 (1,939 ) 10,399 Trust securities $ 48,453 $ 470 $ (6,169 ) $ 42,754 Accrued investment income $ 373 $ 373 Cemetery perpetual care investments $ 43,127 Market value as a percentage of cost 88.2 % We determine whether or not the assets in the cemetery perpetual care trusts have an other-than-temporary impairment on a security-by-security basis. This assessment is made based upon a number of criteria including the length of time a security has been in a loss position, changes in market conditions and concerns related to the specific issuer. If a loss is considered to be other-than-temporary, the cost basis of the security is adjusted downward to its fair market value. Any reduction in the cost basis due to an other-than-temporary impairment is also recorded as a reduction to Care trusts’ corpus . We recorded a $0.4 million impairment in the first quarter of 2016 for other-than-temporary declines in the fair value related to unrealized losses on certain investments. We recorded a $0.5 million impairment in the first quarter of 2015 for other-than-temporary declines in the fair value related to unrealized losses on certain investments. At March 31, 2016 , we had certain investments within our perpetual care trust investments that had tax lots in loss positions for more than one year. Based on our analyses of these securities, the companies’ businesses and current market conditions, we determined that these investment losses were temporary in nature. Our perpetual care trust investment unrealized losses, their associated fair market values, and the duration of unrealized losses for the periods ended March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 are shown in the following tables (in thousands): March 31, 2016 In Loss Position Less than 12 months In Loss Position Greater than 12 months Total Fair Market Value Unrealized Losses Fair Market Value Unrealized Losses Fair Market Value Unrealized Losses Fixed income securities: Municipal bonds $ 128 $ (26 ) $ 139 $ (33 ) $ 267 $ (60 ) Foreign debt 1,878 (306 ) 1,192 (327 ) 3,070 (633 ) Corporate debt 4,569 (917 ) 4,840 (1,437 ) 9,409 (2,354 ) Preferred stock 5,420 (481 ) 4,660 (507 ) 10,080 (988 ) Common stock 3,666 (1,631 ) 1,986 (1,091 ) 5,652 (2,722 ) Total temporary impaired securities $ 15,661 $ (3,361 ) $ 12,817 $ (3,395 ) $ 28,478 $ (6,757 ) December 31, 2015 In Loss Position Less than 12 months In Loss Position Greater than 12 months Total Fair Market Value Unrealized Losses Fair Market Value Unrealized Losses Fair Market Value Unrealized Losses Fixed income securities: Municipal bonds $ 280 $ (45 ) $ — $ — $ 280 $ (45 ) Foreign debt $ 2,541 $ (265 ) $ 281 $ (215 ) $ 2,822 $ (480 ) Corporate debt 10,463 (2,164 ) 2,210 (931 ) 12,673 (3,095 ) Preferred stock 7,100 (301 ) 3,568 (309 ) 10,668 (610 ) Common stock 7,379 (1,220 ) 2,186 (719 ) 9,565 (1,939 ) Total temporary impaired securities $ 27,763 $ (3,995 ) $ 8,245 $ (2,174 ) $ 36,008 $ (6,169 ) Perpetual care trust investment security transactions recorded in Interest expense on our Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2016 were as follows (in thousands): For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 2016 Realized gains $ 190 $ 47 Realized losses (425 ) (1,249 ) Decrease in care trusts’ corpus 235 1,202 Total $ — $ — Perpetual care trust investment security transactions recorded in Cemetery revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2016 were as follows (in thousands): For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 2016 Investment income $ 1,168 $ 1,476 Realized gain, net (91 ) (262 ) Total $ 1,077 $ 1,214 Purchases and sales of investments in the perpetual care trusts were as follows (in thousands): For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 2016 Purchases $ (4,634 ) $ (6,758 ) Sales $ 1,822 $ 4,748

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS	FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS We evaluated our financial assets and liabilities for those financial assets and liabilities that met the criteria of the disclosure requirements and fair value framework. The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables and trade payables approximate the fair values of those instruments due to the short-term nature of the instruments. The fair values of receivables on preneed funeral and cemetery contracts are impracticable to estimate because of the lack of a trading market and the diverse number of individual contracts with varying terms. Our long-term debt and Credit Facility (as defined in Note 9) are classified within Level 2 of the Fair Value Measurement hierarchy. The fair values of the long-term debt and Credit Facility approximate the carrying values of these instruments based on the index yields of similar securities compared to U.S. Treasury yield curves. The fair value of the convertible subordinated notes due 2021 was approximately $157.9 million at March 31, 2016 based on the last traded or broker quoted price. We identified investments in fixed income securities, common stock and mutual funds presented within the preneed and perpetual care trust investment categories on our Consolidated Balance Sheets as having met the criteria for fair value measurement. As of March 31, 2016 , we did not have any assets that had fair values determined by Level 3 inputs and no liabilities measured at fair value. We account for our investments as available-for-sale and measure them at fair value under the standards of financial accounting and reporting for investments in equity instruments that have readily determinable fair values and for all investments in debt securities. See Notes 3 and 6 to our Consolidated Financial Statements herein for the fair value hierarchy levels of our trust investments.

Deferred Charges and Other Non-

Deferred Charges and Other Non-Current Assets	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Deferred Costs, Capitalized, Prepaid, and Other Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Other Assets Disclosure [Text Block]	DEFERRED CHARGES AND OTHER NON-CURRENT ASSETS Deferred charges and other non-current assets at December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016 were as follows (in thousands): December 31, 2015 March 31, 2106 Prepaid agreements not to compete, net of accumulated amortization of $5,404 and $5,507, respectively $ 1,912 $ 1,892 Tradenames 8,856 8,856 Other 210 — Deferred charges and other non-current assets $ 10,978 $ 10,748 Prepaid agreements not-to-compete are amortized over the term of the respective agreements, ranging generally from one to ten years. Amortization expense was approximately $0.1 million for both the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2016 . Our tradenames have indefinite lives and therefore are not amortized.

Long-Term Debt

Long-Term Debt	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
LONG-TERM DEBT	LONG-TERM DEBT Our long-term debt consisted of the following at December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016 (in thousands): December 31, 2015 March 31, 2016 Revolving credit facility, secured, floating rate $ 92,600 $ 54,000 Term loan, secured, floating rate 110,937 147,187 Acquisition debt 4,929 4,662 Debt issuance costs, net of accumulated amortization of $3,246 and $3,910, respectively (1,445 ) (1,498 ) Less: current portion (12,012 ) (12,305 ) Total long-term debt $ 195,009 $ 192,046 As of March 31, 2016 , we had a $300 million secured bank credit facility with Bank of America, N.A. as Administrative Agent (the “Credit Agreement”), comprised of a $150 million revolving credit facility and a $150 million term loan (collectively, the “Credit Facility”). The Credit Facility also contains an accordion provision to borrow up to an additional $75 million in revolving loans, subject to certain conditions. The Credit Facility is collateralized by all personal property and funeral home real property in certain states. On February 9, 2016, we entered into a seventh amendment (the “Seventh Amendment”) to our Credit Facility. The Seventh Amendment resulted in, among other things, (i) reducing our LIBOR based variable interest rate 37.5 basis points, (ii) extending the maturity so that the Credit Agreement will mature at the earlier of (a) any date that is 91 days prior to the maturity of any subordinated debt (including the $ 143.75 million in principal amount of the Convertible Notes) or (b) February 9, 2021, (iii) increasing and funding the term loan so that $ 150 million was outstanding upon the effectiveness of the Seventh Amendment, (iv) reducing the size of the revolver to $150 million , (v) increasing the accordion to $75 million and (vi) updating the amortization payments for the term loan facility so that the borrowings under the term loan facility are subject to amortization payments of $2.81 million at the end of each fiscal quarter beginning with the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2016 through the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2017, $3.75 million at the end of each fiscal quarter beginning with the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2018 through the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2020 and $4.69 million at the end of each fiscal quarter beginning with the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2020 through the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2020. In connection with the Seventh Amendment, we recognized a loss of $0.6 million to write-off the related unamortized debt issuance costs. As of March 31, 2016 , we had outstanding borrowings under the revolving credit facility of $54.0 million and approximately $147.2 million was outstanding on the term loan. No letters of credit were issued and outstanding under the Credit Facility at March 31, 2016 . Outstanding borrowings under the Credit Facility bear interest at either a prime rate or a LIBOR rate, plus an applicable margin based upon our leverage ratio. As of March 31, 2016 , the prime rate margin was equivalent to 1.125% and the LIBOR margin was 2.125% . The weighted average interest rate on the Credit Facility for the three months ended March 31, 2016 was 2.7% . We were in compliance with the covenants contained in the Credit Agreement as of March 31, 2016 . The Credit Agreement contains key ratios that we must comply with including a requirement to maintain a leverage ratio of no more than 3.50 to 1.00 and a covenant to maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio of no less than 1.20 to 1.00. As of March 31, 2016 , the leverage ratio was 3.05 to 1.00 and the fixed charge coverage ratio was 2.54 to 1.00. Beginning January 1, 2016, debt issuance costs are retroactively reflected as a direct deduction from the carrying value of the related debt liability (refer herein to Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements). Debt issuance costs are being amortized over the term of the related debt using the effective interest method for our term loan and the straight line method for our revolving credit facility. Acquisition debt consists of deferred purchase price and promissory notes payable to sellers.

Convertible Subordinated Notes

Convertible Subordinated Notes	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Convertible Subordinated Notes [Abstract]
Convertible Subordinated Notes	CONVERTIBLE SUBORDINATED NOTES On March 19, 2014, we issued $143.75 million aggregate principal amount of 2.75% convertible subordinated notes due March 15, 2021 (the “Convertible Notes”). The Convertible Notes bear interest at 2.75% . Interest on the Convertible Notes began to accrue on March 19, 2014 and is payable semi-annually in arrears on March 15 and September 15 of each year. The carrying values of the liability and equity components of the Convertible Notes at December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016 are reflected in our Consolidated Balance Sheets as follows (in thousands): December 31, 2015 March 31, 2016 Long-term liabilities: Principal amount $ 143,750 $ 143,750 Unamortized discount of liability component (25,754 ) (24,827 ) Convertible Notes issuance costs, net of accumulated amortization of $858 and $982, respectively $ (2,769 ) $ (2,645 ) Carrying value of the liability component $ 115,227 $ 116,278 Equity component carrying value $ 17,973 $ 17,973 The fair value of the Convertible Notes, which are Level 2 measurements, was approximately $157.9 million at March 31, 2016 . Interest expense on the Convertible Notes included contractual coupon interest expense of approximately $1.0 million for both the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2016 . Amortization of debt issuance costs was approximately $0.1 million for both the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2016 . Accretion of the discount on the Convertible Notes was $0.8 million and $0.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2016 , respectively. Beginning January 1, 2016, debt issuance costs are retroactively reflected as a direct deduction from the carrying value of the related debt liability (refer herein to Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements). The unamortized discount and the unamortized debt issuance costs are being amortized using the effective interest method over the remaining term of the Convertible Notes. The effective interest rate on the liability component and the debt issuance costs for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2016 was 6.75% and 2.75% , respectively.

Stockholders' Equity

Stockholders' Equity	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY	STOCKHOLDERS ’ EQUITY Stock Options As of March 31, 2016 , there were 1,869,754 stock options outstanding and 799,067 stock options which remain unvested. On February 23, 2016, we granted 235,500 options to certain certain officers and key employees at an option price of $20.06 . These options will vest in one-fifth increments over a five -year period and have a ten -year term. The fair value of the total options granted during the first quarter of 2016 was approximately $1.3 million . We recorded pre-tax stock-based compensation expense for stock options totaling approximately $0.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2016 . The fair value of the option grants were estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions: February 23, 2016 Dividend yield 0.5 % Expected volatility 31.85 % Risk-free interest rate 1.23 % Expected life (years) 5.0 Black-Scholes value $5.60 Performance Awards During the first quarter of 2016 , we granted 73,700 performance awards to certain certain officers and key employees, payable in shares. These awards will vest (if at all) on December 31, 2020 provided that certain criteria surrounding Adjusted Consolidated EBITDA (Adjusted Consolidated Earnings Before Interest Tax Depreciation and Amortization) and Relative Shareholder Return performance is achieved and the individual has remained continuously employed by Carriage through such date. The Adjusted Consolidated EBITDA performance represents 25% of the award and the Relative Shareholder Return performance represents 75% of the award. The fair value of these performance awards granted during the first quarter of 2016 was approximately $1.6 million . The pre-tax compensation expense associated with these awards for the three months ended March 31, 2016 was approximately $27,000 . The fair value of the performance awards are estimated on the date of the grant using a Monte-Carlo simulation pricing model with the following assumptions: February 23, 2016 Performance period January 1, 2016 - December 31, 2020 Simulation period (years) 4.86 Share price at grant date $20.06 Expected volatility 31.2 % Risk-free interest rate 1.21 % Forfeiture rate 2.0 % Restricted Stock Grants During the first quarter of 2016 , we issued restricted stock awards totaling 16,900 to certain employees that vest over a three -year period and had an aggregate grant date market value of approximately $0.3 million . Related to the vesting of restricted stock awards, we recorded approximately $0.4 million and $0.3 million of pre-tax compensation expense, which is included in general, administrative and other expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2016 , respectively. As of March 31, 2016 , we had approximately $2.5 million of total unrecognized compensation costs related to unvested restricted stock awards, which are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately 2.0 years. Employee Stock Purchase Plan During the first quarter of 2016 , employees purchased a total of 12,472 shares of common stock through the employee stock purchase plan (“ESPP”) at a weighted average price of $18.37 per share. We recorded pre-tax stock-based compensation expense for the ESPP totaling approximately $73,000 and $77,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2016 , respectively. The fair value of the option to purchase shares under the ESPP is estimated on the date of grant (January 1 of each year) associated with the four quarterly purchase dates using the following assumptions: 2016 Dividend yield 0.5 % Expected volatility 24.71 % Risk-free interest rate 0.22%, 0.49%, 0.55%, 0.61% Expected life (years) 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.00 Expected volatilities are based on the historical volatility during the previous twelve months of the underlying common stock. The risk-free rate for the quarterly purchase periods is based on the U.S. Treasury yields in effect at the time of the purchase. The expected life of the ESPP grants represents the calendar quarters from the beginning of the year to the purchase date (end of each quarter). Director Compensation Policy We compensate our directors through cash payments, including retainers and meeting attendance fees, and through stock-based awards. Refer to Note 18 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 for a full discussion concerning our Director Compensation Policy. We recorded approximately $92,000 and $124,000 of pre-tax compensation expense, which is included in general, administrative and other expenses, for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2016 , respectively, related to the director fees and annual retainers. Share Repurchase Program On February 25, 2016, our Board of Directors (our “Board”) approved a share repurchase program authorizing us to purchase up to an aggregate of $25.0 million of our common stock in accordance with Rule 10b-18 of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The shares may be purchased from time to time in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. Purchases will be at times and in amounts as management deems appropriate based on factors such as market conditions, legal requirements and other business considerations. During the first quarter of 2016, we did not repurchase any shares of common stock. Cash Dividends During the three months ended March 31, 2016 , our Board declared a quarterly dividend of $0.025 per share, totaling approximately $0.4 million , which was paid on March 1, 2016 to record holders of our common stock as of February 12, 2016. We have a dividend reinvestment program so that stockholders may elect to reinvest their dividends into additional shares of our common stock. Accumulated other comprehensive income Our components of Accumulated other comprehensive income are as follows: Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Balance at December 31, 2015 $ — Decrease in net unrealized gains associated with available-for-sale securities of the trusts (24,467 ) Reclassification of net unrealized gain activity attributable to the Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust and Care trusts’ corpus 24,467 Balance at March 31, 2016 $ —

Major Segments of Business

Major Segments of Business	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
MAJOR SEGMENTS OF BUSINESS	MAJOR SEGMENTS OF BUSINESS We conduct funeral and cemetery operations only in the United States. The following table presents revenue from operations, pre-tax income (loss) from operations and total assets by segment (in thousands): Funeral Cemetery Corporate Consolidated Revenues from operations: Three months ended March 31, 2016 $ 49,302 $ 14,029 $ — $ 63,331 Three months ended March 31, 2015 $ 50,137 $ 13,116 $ — $ 63,253 Income (loss) from operations before income taxes: Three months ended March 31, 2016 $ 16,729 $ 4,249 $ (13,360 ) $ 7,618 Three months ended March 31, 2015 $ 17,798 $ 4,046 $ (10,821 ) $ 11,023 Total assets: March 31, 2016 $ 591,785 $ 225,301 $ 10,092 $ 827,178 December 31, 2015 $ 591,389 $ 229,479 $ 12,271 $ 833,139

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
EARNINGS PER SHARE	EARNINGS PER SHARE The following table sets forth the computation of the basic and diluted earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2016 (in thousands, except per share data): For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 2016 Numerator for basic and diluted earnings per share: Net income $ 6,418 $ 4,571 Less: Earnings allocated to unvested restricted stock (100 ) (41 ) Income attributable to common stockholders $ 6,318 $ 4,530 Denominator: Denominator for basic earnings per common share - weighted average shares outstanding 18,208 16,459 Effect of dilutive securities: Stock options 248 191 Convertible subordinated notes 348 — Denominator for diluted earnings per common share - weighted average shares outstanding 18,804 16,650 Basic earnings per common share: Basic earnings per common share: $ 0.35 $ 0.27 Diluted earnings per common share: $ 0.34 $ 0.27 The fully diluted weighted average shares outstanding for the three months ended March 31, 2015 , and the corresponding calculation of fully diluted earnings per share, include approximately 348,000 shares that would have been issued upon the conversion of our Convertible Notes as a result of the application of the if-converted method prescribed by the FASB ASC 260. There were no shares that would have been issued upon conversion of our Convertible Notes as of March 31, 2016 . For the three months ended March 31, 2016 , 538,000 stock options were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because the inclusion of such stock options would result in an antidilutive effect. For the three months ended March 31, 2015 , 25,000 stock options were excluded.

Subsequent Events

Subsequent Events	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events	SUBSEQUENT EVENTS On April 23, 2016, we entered into a Release Agreement with L. William Heiligbrodt (the “Agreement"). In consideration for the release provided under the Agreement, Mr. Heiligbrodt will receive an aggregate amount of $1,801,400 , which such amount will be paid in installments occurring on or before January 1, 2017. The Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and arrangements between the Company and Mr. Heiligbrodt.

Basis Of Presentation And Sum20

Basis Of Presentation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Principles of Consolidation, Policy	Principles of Consolidation and Interim Condensed Disclosures Our unaudited consolidated financial statements include the Company and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. Our interim consolidated financial statements are unaudited but include all adjustments, which consist of normal, recurring accruals, that are necessary for a fair presentation of our financial position and results of operations as of and for the interim periods presented. Our unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in a manner consistent with the accounting principles described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 unless otherwise disclosed herein, and should be read in conjunction therewith.
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy	Cash and Cash Equivalents We consider all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.
Use of Estimates, Policy	Use of Estimates The preparation of our Consolidated Financial Statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates and judgments, including those related to revenue recognition, realization of accounts receivable, goodwill, intangible assets, property and equipment and deferred tax assets and liabilities. We base our estimates on historical experience, third-party data and assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. The results of these considerations form the basis for making judgments about the amount and timing of revenues and expenses, the carrying value of assets and the recorded amounts of liabilities. Actual results may differ from these estimates and such estimates may change if the underlying conditions or assumptions change. Historical performance should not be viewed as indicative of future performance, as there can be no assurance that our results of operations will be consistent from year to year.
Funeral and Cemetery Operations, Policy	Funeral and Cemetery Operations We record the revenue from sales of funeral and cemetery merchandise and services when the merchandise is delivered or the service is performed. Sales of cemetery interment rights are recorded as revenue in accordance with the retail land sales provisions for accounting for sales of real estate. This method provides for the recognition of revenue in the period in which the customer’s cumulative payments exceed 10% of the contract price related to the interment right. Costs related to the sales of interment rights, which include real property and other costs related to cemetery development activities, are charged to operations using the specific identification method in the period in which the sale of the interment right is recognized as revenue. We recorded amortization expense for cemetery property of approximately $0.8 million and $1.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2016 , respectively. Sales taxes collected are recognized on a net basis in our Consolidated Financial Statements. Allowances for bad debts and customer cancellations are provided at the date that the sale is recognized as revenue and are based on our historical experience and the current economic environment. We also monitor changes in delinquency rates and provide additional bad debt and cancellation reserves when warranted. When preneed sales of funeral services and merchandise are funded through third-party insurance policies, we earn a commission on the sale of the policies. Insurance commissions are recognized as revenues at the point at which the commission is no longer subject to refund, which is typically one year after the policy is issued.
Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy	Property, Plant and Equipment Property, plant and equipment (including equipment under capital leases) are stated at cost. The costs of ordinary maintenance and repairs are charged to operations as incurred, while renewals and betterments are capitalized. Depreciation of property, plant and equipment (including equipment under capital leases) is computed based on the straight-line method.
Share-based Compensation, Option and Incentive Plans, Director Policy	Stock Plans and Stock-Based Compensation We have stock-based employee and director compensation plans under which we may grant restricted stock, stock options, performance awards and our employee stock purchase plan under which stock may be purchased. We recognize compensation expense in an amount equal to the fair value of the share-based awards expected to vest over the requisite service period. Fair value is determined on the date of the grant. The fair value of options or awards containing options is determined using the Black-Scholes valuation model. The fair value of the performance awards is determined using a Monte-Carlo simulation pricing model
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy	Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs Effective January 1, 2016, we adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board's (“FASB”) new guidance on simplifying the presentation of debt issuance costs. In April 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”), Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30) , which requires that entities that have historically presented debt issuance costs as an asset, related to a recognized debt liability, will be required to present those costs as a direct deduction from the carrying value of the related debt liability. This presentation will result in debt issuance costs being presented in the same way debt discounts have historically been addressed. Debt issuances costs of $4.2 million and $4.1 million have been presented as a deduction from the carrying value of the related liabilities in our Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016 , respectively. Business Combinations Effective January 1, 2016, we adopted the FASB new guidance on simplifying the accounting for measurement-period adjustments for Business Combinations. In September 2015, the FASB issued ASU, Business Combinations (Topic 805) , which requires that an acquirer recognize adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. These include the effect on earnings of changes in depreciation, amortization, or other income effects as if the accounting had been completed at the acquisition date. The entity is required to present separately on the face of the income statement or disclose in the notes the portion of the amount recorded in the current period earnings by line item that would have been recorded in previous reporting periods if the adjustment to the provisional amounts had been recognized as of the acquisition date. Our adoption of this ASU did not have a material effect on our financial statements. Extraordinary and Unusual Items Effective January 1, 2016, we adopted the FASB new guidance on extraordinary and unusual items. In January 2015, the FASB issued ASU, Extraordinary and Unusual Items (Subtopic 225-20) . This ASU eliminates the concept of reporting extraordinary items. Preparers will not have to assess whether a particular event or transaction is extraordinary and likewise, auditors and regulators no longer need to evaluate whether a preparer treated an unusual and/or infrequent item appropriately. The presentation and disclosure guidance for items that are unusual in nature or occur infrequently will be retained and will be expanded to include such items. Our adoption of this ASU did not have a material effect on our financial statements. Simplifying Share-Based Payment Accounting In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718). This ASU applies to all entities that issue share-based payment awards to their employees. The amendments in this ASU involve several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with earlier application permitted for all entities. Amendments related to the presentation of employee taxes paid on the statement of cash flows when an employer withholds shares to meet the minimum statutory withholding requirement should be applied retrospectively. Amendments requiring recognition of excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies in the income statement and the practical expedient for estimating expected term should be applied prospectively. An entity may elect to apply the amendments related to the presentation of excess tax benefits on the statement of cash flows using either a prospective transition method or a retrospective transition method. We plan to adopt the provisions of this ASU for our fiscal year beginning January 1, 2017 and are currently evaluating the impact the adoption of this new accounting standard will have on our Consolidated Financial Statements. Leases In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU, Leases (Topic 842). This ASU addresses certain aspects of recognition, presentation, and disclosure of leases and apply to all entities that that enter into a lease, with some specified scope exemptions. The amendments in this ASU aims to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with earlier application permitted for all entities. Both lessees and lessors are required to recognize and measure leases at the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach. We plan to adopt the provisions of this ASU for our fiscal year beginning January 1, 2019 and are currently evaluating the impact the adoption of this new accounting standard will have on our Consolidated Financial Statements.
Subsequent Events, Policy	Subsequent Events Management evaluated events and transactions during the period subsequent to March 31, 2016 through the date the financial statements were issued for potential recognition or disclosure in the accompanying financial statements covered by this report.

Basis of Presentation and Sum21

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Property, Plant and Equipment	Property, plant and equipment was comprised of the following at December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016 : December 31, 2015 March 31, 2016 (in thousands) Land $ 65,433 $ 67,868 Buildings and improvements 180,804 180,711 Furniture, equipment and automobiles 71,943 73,301 Property, plant and equipment, at cost 318,180 321,880 Less: accumulated depreciation (103,306 ) (105,016 ) Property, plant and equipment, net $ 214,874 $ 216,864

Preneed Trust Investments (Tabl

Preneed Trust Investments (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Preneed Trust Investments [Abstract]
Components of preneed cemetery trust investments	The components of Preneed cemetery trust investments on our Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016 were as follows (in thousands): December 31, 2015 March 31, 2016 Preneed cemetery trust investments, at market value $ 65,486 $ 62,551 Less: allowance for contract cancellation (2,195 ) (2,119 ) Preneed cemetery trust investments, net $ 63,291 $ 60,432
Cost and fair market values associated with preneed cemetery trust investments	The cost and fair market values associated with preneed cemetery trust investments at March 31, 2016 are detailed below (in thousands): Fair Value Hierarchy Level Cost Unrealized Gains Unrealized Losses Fair Market Value Cash and money market accounts 1 $ 4,611 $ — $ — $ 4,611 Fixed income securities: Municipal bonds 2 457 — (83 ) 374 Foreign debt 2 7,437 110 (937 ) 6,610 Corporate debt 2 25,871 699 (3,238 ) 23,332 Preferred stock 2 16,184 5 (1,406 ) 14,783 Common stock 1 15,006 162 (4,403 ) 10,765 Mutual Funds: Fixed Income 2 $ 1,078 $ 49 $ — $ 1,127 Trust securities $ 70,644 $ 1,025 $ (10,067 ) $ 61,602 Accrued investment income $ 949 $ 949 Preneed cemetery trust investments $ 62,551 Market value as a percentage of cost 87.2 % The cost and fair market values associated with preneed cemetery trust investments at December 31, 2015 are detailed below (in thousands): Fair Value Hierarchy Level Cost Unrealized Gains Unrealized Losses Fair Market Value Cash and money market accounts 1 $ 8,296 $ — $ — $ 8,296 Fixed income securities: Municipal bonds 2 458 — (63 ) 395 Foreign debt 2 4,803 — (695 ) 4,108 Corporate debt 2 22,968 85 (4,279 ) 18,774 Preferred stock 2 16,236 29 (885 ) 15,380 Mortgage backed securities 2 — — — — Common stock 1 20,387 682 (3,161 ) 17,908 Trust securities $ 73,148 $ 796 $ (9,083 ) $ 64,861 Accrued investment income $ 625 $ 625 Preneed cemetery trust investments $ 65,486 Market value as a percentage of cost 88.7 %
Estimated maturities of fixed preneed cemetery trust income securities	The estimated maturities of the fixed income securities included above are as follows (in thousands): Due in one year or less $ 127 Due in one to five years 8,546 Due in five to ten years 4,591 Thereafter 31,835 Total fixed income securities $ 45,099
Schedule of fair market value and unrealized loss on cemetery merchandise and service trust investments	Our cemetery merchandise and service trust investment unrealized losses, their associated fair market values, and the duration of unrealized losses as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , are shown in the following tables (in thousands): March 31, 2016 In Loss Position Less than 12 months In Loss Position Greater than 12 months Total Fair Market Value Unrealized Losses Fair Market Value Unrealized Losses Fair Market Value Unrealized Losses Fixed income securities: Municipal bonds $ 142 $ (28 ) $ 232 $ (55 ) $ 374 $ (83 ) Foreign debt 2,671 (395 ) 1,984 (542 ) 4,655 (937 ) Corporate debt 5,449 (853 ) 8,034 (2,385 ) 13,483 (3,238 ) Preferred stock 6,613 (566 ) 7,730 (840 ) 14,343 (1,406 ) Common stock 6,088 (2,602 ) 3,278 (1,801 ) 9,366 (4,403 ) Total temporary impaired securities $ 20,963 $ (4,444 ) $ 21,258 $ (5,623 ) $ 42,221 $ (10,067 ) December 31, 2015 In Loss Position Less than 12 months In Loss Position Greater than 12 months Total Fair Market Value Unrealized Losses Fair Market Value Unrealized Losses Fair Market Value Unrealized Losses Fixed income securities: Municipal bonds $ 395 $ (63 ) $ — $ — $ 395 $ (63 ) Foreign debt $ 3,680 $ (384 ) $ 406 $ (312 ) $ 4,086 $ (696 ) Corporate debt 14,468 (2,992 ) 3,056 (1,287 ) 17,524 (4,279 ) Preferred stock 10,285 (436 ) 5,168 (448 ) 15,453 (884 ) Common stock 12,029 (1,989 ) 3,564 (1,172 ) 15,593 (3,161 ) Total temporary impaired securities $ 40,857 $ (5,864 ) $ 12,194 $ (3,219 ) $ 53,051 $ (9,083 )
Preneed cemetery trust investment security transactions	Preneed cemetery trust investment security transactions recorded in Interest expense on our Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2016 were as follows (in thousands): For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 2016 Investment income $ 517 $ 291 Realized gains 358 108 Realized losses (798 ) (2,480 ) Expenses and taxes (319 ) (343 ) Decrease in deferred preneed cemetery receipts held in trust 242 2,424 $ — $ —
Purchases and sales of investments in preneed cemetary trusts	Purchases and sales of investments in the preneed cemetery trusts were as follows (in thousands): For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 2016 Purchases $ (7,008 ) $ (10,892 ) Sales $ 2,752 $ 7,354
Components of preneed funeral trust investments	December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016 were as follows (in thousands): December 31, 2015 March 31, 2016 Preneed funeral trust investments, at market value $ 88,444 $ 85,958 Less: allowance for contract cancellation (2,891 ) (2,826 ) Preneed funeral trust investments, net $ 85,553 $ 83,132
Estimated maturities of fixed preneed funeral trust income securities	The estimated maturities of the fixed income securities included above are as follows (in thousands): Due in one year or less $ 137 Due in one to five years 9,641 Due in five to ten years 5,682 Thereafter 34,879 Total $ 50,339
Cost and fair market values associated with preneed funeral trust investments	The cost and fair market values associated with preneed funeral trust investments at March 31, 2016 are detailed below (in thousands): Fair Value Hierarchy Level Cost Unrealized Gains Unrealized Losses Fair Market Value Cash and money market accounts 1 $ 17,828 $ — $ — $ 17,828 Fixed income securities: U.S. treasury debt 1 1,491 48 — 1,539 Municipal bonds 2 478 — (87 ) 391 Foreign debt 2 7,823 120 (971 ) 6,972 Corporate debt 2 27,648 793 (3,412 ) 25,029 Preferred stock 2 17,464 131 (1,455 ) 16,140 Mortgage backed securities 2 267 5 (4 ) 268 Common stock 1 15,528 160 (4,597 ) 11,091 Mutual funds: Fixed income 2 2,118 54 (51 ) 2,121 Other investments 2 3,562 — (24 ) 3,538 Trust securities $ 94,207 $ 1,311 $ (10,601 ) $ 84,917 Accrued investment income $ 1,041 $ 1,041 Preneed funeral trust investments $ 85,958 Market value as a percentage of cost 90.1 % The cost and fair market values associated with preneed funeral trust investments at December 31, 2015 are detailed below (in thousands): Fair Value Hierarchy Level Cost Unrealized Gains Unrealized Losses Fair Market Value Cash and money market accounts 1 $ 21,458 $ — $ — $ 21,458 Fixed income securities: U.S. treasury debt 1 1,492 24 (12 ) 1,504 Municipal bonds 2 478 — (66 ) 412 Foreign debt 2 4,938 — (711 ) 4,227 Corporate debt 2 24,787 133 (4,711 ) 20,209 Preferred stock 2 17,496 158 (914 ) 16,740 Mortgage backed securities 1 273 4 (4 ) 273 Common stock 20,864 738 (3,114 ) 18,488 Mutual funds: Equity 1 — — — — Fixed income 2 $ 959 $ — $ (82 ) $ 877 Other investments 2 $ 3,598 $ — $ (30 ) $ 3,568 Trust securities $ 96,343 $ 1,057 $ (9,644 ) $ 87,756 Accrued investment income 688 $ 688 Preneed funeral trust investments $ 88,444 Market value as a percentage of cost 91.1 %
Schedule of fair market value and unrealized loss on preneed funeral trust investments	Our preneed funeral trust investment unrealized losses, their associated fair market values, and the duration of unrealized losses as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 are shown in the following tables (in thousands): March 31, 2016 In Loss Position Less than 12 months In Loss Position Greater than 12 months Total Fair Market Value Unrealized Losses Fair Market Value Unrealized Losses Fair Market Value Unrealized Losses Fixed income securities: Municipal bonds $ 139 $ (27 ) $ 252 $ (60 ) $ 391 $ (87 ) Foreign debt 2,692 (378 ) 2,158 (593 ) 4,850 (971 ) Corporate debt 5,470 (825 ) 8,783 (2,587 ) 14,253 (3,412 ) Preferred stock 6,384 (537 ) 8,449 (918 ) 14,833 (1,455 ) Mortgage backed securities 102 (3 ) 15 (1 ) 117 (4 ) Mutual funds: Equity 6,087 (2,620 ) 3,594 (1,977 ) 9,681 (4,597 ) Fixed income 46 (1 ) 818 (50 ) 864 (51 ) Other investments — — 11 (24 ) 11 (24 ) Total temporary impaired securities $ 20,920 $ (4,391 ) $ 24,080 $ (6,210 ) $ 45,000 $ (10,601 ) December 31, 2015 In Loss Position Less than 12 months In Loss Position Greater than 12 months Total Fair Market Value Unrealized Losses Fair Market Value Unrealized Losses Fair Market Value Unrealized Losses Fixed income securities: U.S. debt $ — $ — $ 1,504 $ (12 ) $ 1,504 $ (12 ) Municipal bonds 413 (66 ) — — 413 (66 ) Foreign debt 3,763 (392 ) 416 (319 ) 4,179 (711 ) Corporate debt 15,929 (3,294 ) 3,364 (1,417 ) 19,293 (4,711 ) Preferred stock 10,623 (451 ) 5,338 (463 ) 15,961 (914 ) Mortgage backed securities — — 272 (4 ) 272 (4 ) Mutual funds: Equity 11,848 (1,959 ) 3,510 (1,154 ) 15,358 (3,113 ) Equity and other — — — — — — Fixed income 1 — 876 (82 ) 877 (82 ) Other investments — — 42 (31 ) 42 (31 ) Total temporary impaired securities 42,577 (6,162 ) 15,322 (3,482 ) 57,899 (9,644 )
Preneed funeral trust investment security transactions	Preneed funeral trust investment security transactions recorded in Interest expense on the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2016 were as follows (in thousands): For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 2016 Investment income $ 556 $ 340 Realized gains 294 144 Realized losses (625 ) (2,396 ) Expenses and taxes (260 ) (247 ) Decrease in deferred preneed funeral receipts held in trust 35 2,159 $ — $ —
Purchases and sales of investments in preneed funeral trusts	Purchases and sales of investments in the preneed funeral trusts were as follows (in thousands): For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 2016 Purchases $ (5,489 ) $ (11,407 ) Sales $ 2,302 $ 7,458

Preneed Cemetery Receivables (T

Preneed Cemetery Receivables (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Preneed Cemetery Receivables [Abstract]
Preneed Cemetery Receivables	, the change in the allowance for contract cancellations was as follows (in thousands): March 31, 2016 Beginning balance $ 1,765 Write-offs and cancellations (385 ) Provision 399 Ending balance $ 1,779
Aging of Past Due Financing Receivables	The aging of past due financing receivables as of March 31, 2016 was as follows (in thousands): 31-60 Past Due 61-90 Past Due 91-120 Past Due >120 Past Due Total Past Due Current Total Financing Receivables Recognized revenue $ 569 $ 351 $ 185 $ 1,096 $ 2,201 $ 23,970 $ 26,171 Deferred revenue 206 119 84 351 760 9,906 10,666 Total contracts $ 775 $ 470 $ 269 $ 1,447 $ 2,961 $ 33,876 $ 36,837

Receivables from Preneed Trus24

Receivables from Preneed Trusts (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Receivables From Preneed Trusts [Abstract]
Receivables from Preneed Trusts	As of December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016 , receivables from preneed trusts were as follows (in thousands): December 31, 2015 March 31, 2016 Preneed trust funds, at cost $ 13,963 $ 13,454 Less: allowance for contract cancellation (419 ) (404 ) Receivables from preneed trusts, net $ 13,544 $ 13,050
Composition of Assets Held in Trust	The following summary reflects the composition of the assets held in trust and controlled by third parties to satisfy our future obligations under preneed arrangements related to the preceding contracts at December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016 . The cost basis includes reinvested interest and dividends that have been earned on the trust assets. Fair value includes the unrealized gains and losses on trust assets. Historical Cost Basis Fair Value (in thousands) As of December 31, 2015 Cash and cash equivalents $ 2,898 $ 2,898 Fixed income investments 8,423 8,426 Mutual funds and common stocks 2,626 2,625 Annuities 16 16 Total $ 13,963 $ 13,965 Historical Cost Basis Fair Value (in thousands) As of March 31, 2016 Cash and cash equivalents $ 2,989 $ 2,989 Fixed income investments 7,941 7,941 Mutual funds and common stocks 2,508 2,555 Annuities 16 16 Total $ 13,454 $ 13,501

Cemetery Perpetual Care Trust25

Cemetery Perpetual Care Trust Investments (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Cemetery Perpetual Care Trust Investments [Abstract]
Components of care trusts' corpus	The components of Care trusts’ corpus as of December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016 were as follows (in thousands): December 31, 2015 March 31, 2016 Trust assets, at market value $ 43,127 $ 41,341 Obligations due from trust (711 ) (49 ) Care trusts’ corpus $ 42,416 $ 41,292
Cost and fair market values associated with the trust investments held in perpetual care trust funds	The following table reflects the cost and fair market values associated with the trust investments held in perpetual care trust funds at March 31, 2016 (in thousands): Fair Value Hierarchy Level Cost Unrealized Gains Unrealized Losses Fair Market Value Cash and money market accounts 1 $ 3,085 $ — $ — $ 3,085 Fixed income securities: Municipal bonds 2 327 — (60 ) 267 Foreign debt 2 4,810 66 (633 ) 4,243 Corporate debt 2 17,495 422 (2,354 ) 15,563 Preferred stock 2 11,341 4 (988 ) 10,357 Common stock 1 9,151 96 (2,722 ) 6,525 Mutual Funds: Fixed Income 2 $ 695 $ 34 $ — $ 729 Trust securities $ 46,904 $ 622 $ (6,757 ) $ 40,769 Accrued investment income $ 572 $ 572 Cemetery perpetual care investments $ 41,341 Market value as a percentage of cost 86.9 %
Estimated maturities of fixed perpetual care trust income securities	The estimated maturities of the fixed income securities included above are as follows (in thousands): Due in one year or less $ 77 Due in one to five years 5,405 Due in five to ten years 3,209 Thereafter 21,739 Total fixed income securities $ 30,430
Cost and fair Market Values Associated with Trust Investments Held in Perpetual Care Trust Funds [Table Text Block]	The following table reflects the cost and fair market values associated with the trust investments held in perpetual care trust funds at December 31, 2015 (in thousands): Fair Value Hierarchy Level Cost Unrealized Gains Unrealized Losses Fair Market Value Cash and money market accounts 1 $ 5,472 $ — $ — $ 5,472 Fixed income securities: Municipal bonds 2 325 — (45 ) 280 Foreign debt 2 3,232 — (480 ) 2,752 Corporate debt 2 16,216 57 (3,094 ) 13,179 Preferred stock 2 11,263 20 (611 ) 10,672 Common stock 1 11,945 393 (1,939 ) 10,399 Trust securities $ 48,453 $ 470 $ (6,169 ) $ 42,754 Accrued investment income $ 373 $ 373 Cemetery perpetual care investments $ 43,127 Market value as a percentage of cost 88.2 %
Schedule of fair market value and unrealized loss on perteptual care trust investments	Our perpetual care trust investment unrealized losses, their associated fair market values, and the duration of unrealized losses for the periods ended March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 are shown in the following tables (in thousands): March 31, 2016 In Loss Position Less than 12 months In Loss Position Greater than 12 months Total Fair Market Value Unrealized Losses Fair Market Value Unrealized Losses Fair Market Value Unrealized Losses Fixed income securities: Municipal bonds $ 128 $ (26 ) $ 139 $ (33 ) $ 267 $ (60 ) Foreign debt 1,878 (306 ) 1,192 (327 ) 3,070 (633 ) Corporate debt 4,569 (917 ) 4,840 (1,437 ) 9,409 (2,354 ) Preferred stock 5,420 (481 ) 4,660 (507 ) 10,080 (988 ) Common stock 3,666 (1,631 ) 1,986 (1,091 ) 5,652 (2,722 ) Total temporary impaired securities $ 15,661 $ (3,361 ) $ 12,817 $ (3,395 ) $ 28,478 $ (6,757 ) December 31, 2015 In Loss Position Less than 12 months In Loss Position Greater than 12 months Total Fair Market Value Unrealized Losses Fair Market Value Unrealized Losses Fair Market Value Unrealized Losses Fixed income securities: Municipal bonds $ 280 $ (45 ) $ — $ — $ 280 $ (45 ) Foreign debt $ 2,541 $ (265 ) $ 281 $ (215 ) $ 2,822 $ (480 ) Corporate debt 10,463 (2,164 ) 2,210 (931 ) 12,673 (3,095 ) Preferred stock 7,100 (301 ) 3,568 (309 ) 10,668 (610 ) Common stock 7,379 (1,220 ) 2,186 (719 ) 9,565 (1,939 ) Total temporary impaired securities $ 27,763 $ (3,995 ) $ 8,245 $ (2,174 ) $ 36,008 $ (6,169 )
Perpetual care trust investment security transactions recorded in interest income and other, net	Perpetual care trust investment security transactions recorded in Interest expense on our Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2016 were as follows (in thousands): For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 2016 Realized gains $ 190 $ 47 Realized losses (425 ) (1,249 ) Decrease in care trusts’ corpus 235 1,202 Total $ — $ —
Perpetual care trust investment security transactions recorded in cemetery revenue	Perpetual care trust investment security transactions recorded in Cemetery revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2016 were as follows (in thousands): For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 2016 Investment income $ 1,168 $ 1,476 Realized gain, net (91 ) (262 ) Total $ 1,077 $ 1,214
Purchases and sales of investments in perpetual care trusts	Purchases and sales of investments in the perpetual care trusts were as follows (in thousands): For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 2016 Purchases $ (4,634 ) $ (6,758 ) Sales $ 1,822 $ 4,748

Deferred Charges and Other No26

Deferred Charges and Other Non-Current Assets (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Deferred Costs, Capitalized, Prepaid, and Other Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Deferred Costs, Capitalized, Prepaid, and Other Assets Disclosure [Table Text Block]	Deferred charges and other non-current assets at December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016 were as follows (in thousands): December 31, 2015 March 31, 2106 Prepaid agreements not to compete, net of accumulated amortization of $5,404 and $5,507, respectively $ 1,912 $ 1,892 Tradenames 8,856 8,856 Other 210 — Deferred charges and other non-current assets $ 10,978 $ 10,748

Long-Term Debt (Tables)

Long-Term Debt (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Long-term Debt	long-term debt consisted of the following at December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016 (in thousands): December 31, 2015 March 31, 2016 Revolving credit facility, secured, floating rate $ 92,600 $ 54,000 Term loan, secured, floating rate 110,937 147,187 Acquisition debt 4,929 4,662 Debt issuance costs, net of accumulated amortization of $3,246 and $3,910, respectively (1,445 ) (1,498 ) Less: current portion (12,012 ) (12,305 ) Total long-term debt $ 195,009 $ 192,046

Convertible Subordinated Notes

Convertible Subordinated Notes (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Convertible Subordinated Notes [Abstract]
Schedule of Liability and Equity Components of Convertible Subordinated Notes	The carrying values of the liability and equity components of the Convertible Notes at December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016 are reflected in our Consolidated Balance Sheets as follows (in thousands): December 31, 2015 March 31, 2016 Long-term liabilities: Principal amount $ 143,750 $ 143,750 Unamortized discount of liability component (25,754 ) (24,827 ) Convertible Notes issuance costs, net of accumulated amortization of $858 and $982, respectively $ (2,769 ) $ (2,645 ) Carrying value of the liability component $ 115,227 $ 116,278 Equity component carrying value $ 17,973 $ 17,973

Stockholders' Equity (Tables)

Stockholders' Equity (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Assumptions for the fair value of the right (option) to purchase shares under ESPP	The fair value of the option to purchase shares under the ESPP is estimated on the date of grant (January 1 of each year) associated with the four quarterly purchase dates using the following assumptions: 2016 Dividend yield 0.5 % Expected volatility 24.71 % Risk-free interest rate 0.22%, 0.49%, 0.55%, 0.61% Expected life (years) 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.00
Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	Our components of Accumulated other comprehensive income are as follows: Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Balance at December 31, 2015 $ — Decrease in net unrealized gains associated with available-for-sale securities of the trusts (24,467 ) Reclassification of net unrealized gain activity attributable to the Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust and Care trusts’ corpus 24,467 Balance at March 31, 2016 $ —
Stock Options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Schedule of Share-based Payment Award, Stock Options, Valuation Assumptions [Table Text Block]	The fair value of the option grants were estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions: February 23, 2016 Dividend yield 0.5 % Expected volatility 31.85 % Risk-free interest rate 1.23 % Expected life (years) 5.0 Black-Scholes value $5.60

Major Segments of Business (Tab

Major Segments of Business (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Revenue, pre-tax income and total and total assets by segments	The following table presents revenue from operations, pre-tax income (loss) from operations and total assets by segment (in thousands): Funeral Cemetery Corporate Consolidated Revenues from operations: Three months ended March 31, 2016 $ 49,302 $ 14,029 $ — $ 63,331 Three months ended March 31, 2015 $ 50,137 $ 13,116 $ — $ 63,253 Income (loss) from operations before income taxes: Three months ended March 31, 2016 $ 16,729 $ 4,249 $ (13,360 ) $ 7,618 Three months ended March 31, 2015 $ 17,798 $ 4,046 $ (10,821 ) $ 11,023 Total assets: March 31, 2016 $ 591,785 $ 225,301 $ 10,092 $ 827,178 December 31, 2015 $ 591,389 $ 229,479 $ 12,271 $ 833,139

Earnings Per Share (Tables)

Earnings Per Share (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted	The following table sets forth the computation of the basic and diluted earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2016 (in thousands, except per share data): For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 2016 Numerator for basic and diluted earnings per share: Net income $ 6,418 $ 4,571 Less: Earnings allocated to unvested restricted stock (100 ) (41 ) Income attributable to common stockholders $ 6,318 $ 4,530 Denominator: Denominator for basic earnings per common share - weighted average shares outstanding 18,208 16,459 Effect of dilutive securities: Stock options 248 191 Convertible subordinated notes 348 — Denominator for diluted earnings per common share - weighted average shares outstanding 18,804 16,650 Basic earnings per common share: Basic earnings per common share: $ 0.35 $ 0.27 Diluted earnings per common share: $ 0.34 $ 0.27

Basis of Presentation and Sum32

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Operations) (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016USD ($)segment	Mar. 31, 2015USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015funeral_homescemeteriesstates
Organization Description and Operations [Line Items]
Amortization Of Cemetery Property	$ 1,000	$ 800
Number of business segments | segment	2
Period after which commissions are no longer subject to refund	1 year
Accounts Receivable, Net, Current	$ 17,911		$ 18,181
Preneed receivables	28,224		27,998
Bad debt expense	523	424
Funeral And Cemetery [Member]
Organization Description and Operations [Line Items]
Bad debt expense	500	$ 400
Funeral [Member]
Organization Description and Operations [Line Items]
Accounts Receivable, Net, Current	7,400		8,200
Preneed receivables	7,300		7,300
Cemetery [Member]
Organization Description and Operations [Line Items]
Accounts Receivable, Net, Current	10,200		9,700
Preneed receivables	$ 20,900		$ 20,700
Funeral homes [Member]
Organization Description and Operations [Line Items]
Number of owned and operated funeral homes (in Funeral Homes) | funeral_homes				167
Number of states in which Company operates | states				27
Cemeteries [Member]
Organization Description and Operations [Line Items]
Number of states in which Company operates | states				11
Number of owned and operated cemeteries (in Cemetaries) | cemeteries				32

Basis of Presentation and Sum33

Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (PPE) (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016USD ($)divestiture	Mar. 31, 2015USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015USD ($)
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	$ 321,880		$ 318,180
Less: accumulated depreciation	(105,016)		(103,306)
Property, plant and equipment, net	216,864		214,874
Depreciation expense	$ 2,700	$ 2,600
Number of divestitures | divestiture	0
Land [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	$ 67,868		65,433
Buildings and improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	180,711		180,804
Furniture, equipment and automobiles [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	73,301		$ 71,943
Service Corporation International [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Payments to Acquire Commercial Real Estate	$ 2,700

Preneed Trust Investments (Comp

Preneed Trust Investments (Components of preneed cemetery trust investments) (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Preneed cemetery trust investments	$ 60,432,000	$ 63,291,000
Fair value measurements, transfers between Level 1 and Level 2	0
Preneed Cemetery Trust Investments [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Preneed cemetary trust investments, at fair value	62,551,000	65,486,000
Less: allowance for contract cancellation	(2,119,000)	(2,195,000)
Preneed cemetery trust investments	$ 60,432,000	$ 63,291,000

Preneed Trust Investments (Cost

Preneed Trust Investments (Cost and fair market values associated with preneed cemetery trust investments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Preneed Cemetery Trust Investments [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost			$ 73,148
Unrealized Gains			796
Unrealized Losses			(9,083)
Fair Market Value			64,861
Preneed cemetery trust investments	$ 62,551		$ 65,486
Fair market value as a percentage of cost	87.20%		88.70%
Impairment charge, other than temporary decline in fair value of investments	$ 700	$ 700
Preneed Cemetery Trust Investments [Member] | Cash and money market accounts [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	4,611		$ 8,296
Unrealized Gains	0		0
Unrealized Losses	0		0
Fair Market Value	4,611		8,296
Preneed Cemetery Trust Investments [Member] | Municipal Bonds [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	457		458
Unrealized Gains	0		0
Unrealized Losses	(83)		(63)
Fair Market Value	374		395
Preneed Cemetery Trust Investments [Member] | Foreign Government Debt Securities [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	7,437		4,803
Unrealized Gains	110		0
Unrealized Losses	(937)		(695)
Fair Market Value	6,610		4,108
Preneed Cemetery Trust Investments [Member] | Corporate Debt [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	25,871		22,968
Unrealized Gains	699		85
Unrealized Losses	(3,238)		(4,279)
Fair Market Value	23,332		18,774
Preneed Cemetery Trust Investments [Member] | Preferred Stock [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	16,184		16,236
Unrealized Gains	5		29
Unrealized Losses	(1,406)		(885)
Fair Market Value	14,783		15,380
Preneed Cemetery Trust Investments [Member] | Common Stock
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	15,006		20,387
Unrealized Gains	162		682
Unrealized Losses	(4,403)		(3,161)
Fair Market Value	10,765		17,908
Preneed Cemetery Trust Investments [Member] | Fixed Income [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	1,078
Unrealized Gains	49
Unrealized Losses	0
Fair Market Value	1,127
Preneed Cemetery Trust Investments [Member] | Trust Securities [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	70,644
Unrealized Gains	1,025
Unrealized Losses	(10,067)
Fair Market Value	61,602
Preneed Cemetery Trust Investments [Member] | Accrued Investment Income [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	949		625
Fair Market Value	949		625
Preneed Funeral Trust Investments [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	94,207
Unrealized Gains	1,311
Unrealized Losses	(10,601)
Fair Market Value	84,917
Preneed cemetery trust investments	$ 85,958		$ 88,444
Fair market value as a percentage of cost	90.10%		91.10%
Impairment charge, other than temporary decline in fair value of investments	$ 800	$ 600
Preneed Funeral Trust Investments [Member] | Cash and money market accounts [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	17,828		$ 21,458
Unrealized Gains	0		0
Unrealized Losses	0		0
Fair Market Value	17,828		21,458
Preneed Funeral Trust Investments [Member] | Municipal Bonds [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	478		478
Unrealized Gains	0		0
Unrealized Losses	(87)		(66)
Fair Market Value	391		412
Preneed Funeral Trust Investments [Member] | Foreign Government Debt Securities [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	7,823		4,938
Unrealized Gains	120		0
Unrealized Losses	(971)		(711)
Fair Market Value	6,972		4,227
Preneed Funeral Trust Investments [Member] | Corporate Debt [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	27,648		24,787
Unrealized Gains	793		133
Unrealized Losses	(3,412)		(4,711)
Fair Market Value	25,029		20,209
Preneed Funeral Trust Investments [Member] | Preferred Stock [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	17,464		17,496
Unrealized Gains	131		158
Unrealized Losses	(1,455)		(914)
Fair Market Value	16,140		16,740
Preneed Funeral Trust Investments [Member] | Common Stock
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	15,528		20,864
Unrealized Gains	160		738
Unrealized Losses	(4,597)		(3,114)
Fair Market Value	11,091		18,488
Preneed Funeral Trust Investments [Member] | Fixed Income [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost			959
Unrealized Gains			0
Unrealized Losses			(82)
Fair Market Value			877
Preneed Funeral Trust Investments [Member] | Trust Securities [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost			96,343
Unrealized Gains			1,057
Unrealized Losses			(9,644)
Fair Market Value			87,756
Preneed Funeral Trust Investments [Member] | Accrued Investment Income [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	1,041		688
Fair Market Value	$ 1,041		$ 688

Preneed Trust Investments (Esti

Preneed Trust Investments (Estimated maturities of fixed preneed cemetery trust income securities) (Details) - Preneed Cemetery Trust Investments [Member] $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016USD ($)
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Due in one year or less	$ 127
Due in one to five years	8,546
Due in five to ten years	4,591
Thereafter	31,835
Total	$ 45,099

Preneed Trust Investments (Unre

Preneed Trust Investments (Unrealized losses on cemetery merchandise and service trust investments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Preneed Funeral Trust Investments [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	$ 20,920	$ 42,577
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	(4,391)	(6,162)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	24,080	15,322
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	(6,210)	(3,482)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	45,000	57,899
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	(10,601)	(9,644)
Preneed Cemetery Trust Investments [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	20,963	40,857
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	(4,444)	(5,864)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	21,258	12,194
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	(5,623)	(3,219)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	42,221	53,051
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	(10,067)	(9,083)
Municipal Bonds [Member] | Preneed Funeral Trust Investments [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	139	413
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	(27)	(66)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	252	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	(60)	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	391	413
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	(87)	(66)
Municipal Bonds [Member] | Preneed Cemetery Trust Investments [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	142	395
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	(28)	(63)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	232	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	(55)	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	374	395
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	(83)	(63)
Foreign Debt [Member] | Preneed Funeral Trust Investments [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	2,692	3,763
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	(378)	(392)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	2,158	416
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	(593)	(319)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	4,850	4,179
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	(971)	(711)
Foreign Debt [Member] | Preneed Cemetery Trust Investments [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	2,671	3,680
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	(395)	(384)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	1,984	406
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	(542)	(312)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	4,655	4,086
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	(937)	(696)
Corporate Debt [Member] | Preneed Funeral Trust Investments [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	5,470	15,929
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	(825)	(3,294)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	8,783	3,364
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	(2,587)	(1,417)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	14,253	19,293
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	(3,412)	(4,711)
Corporate Debt [Member] | Preneed Cemetery Trust Investments [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	5,449	14,468
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	(853)	(2,992)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	8,034	3,056
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	(2,385)	(1,287)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	13,483	17,524
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	(3,238)	(4,279)
Preferred Stock [Member] | Preneed Funeral Trust Investments [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	6,384	10,623
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	(537)	(451)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	8,449	5,338
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	(918)	(463)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	14,833	15,961
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	(1,455)	(914)
Preferred Stock [Member] | Preneed Cemetery Trust Investments [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	6,613	10,285
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	(566)	(436)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	7,730	5,168
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	(840)	(448)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	14,343	15,453
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	(1,406)	(884)
Common Stock [Member] | Preneed Cemetery Trust Investments [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	6,088	12,029
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	(2,602)	(1,989)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	3,278	3,564
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	(1,801)	(1,172)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	9,366	15,593
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	(4,403)	(3,161)
Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] | Preneed Funeral Trust Investments [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	102	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	(3)	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	15	272
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	(1)	(4)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	117	272
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	$ (4)	$ (4)

Preneed Trust Investments (Pren

Preneed Trust Investments (Preneed cemetery trust investment security transactions) (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
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	291,000	$ 517,000
Realized gain, net	108,000	358,000
Realized losses	(2,480,000)	(798,000)
Expenses and taxes	(343,000)	(319,000)
Increase (decrease) in deferred preneed cemetery receipts held in trust	$ 2,424,000	$ 242,000

Preneed Trust Investments (Purc

Preneed Trust Investments (Purchases and sales of investments in preneed cemetery trusts) (Details) - Preneed Cemetery Trust Investments [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Purchases	$ (10,892)	$ (7,008)
Sales	$ 7,354	$ 2,752

Preneed Trust Investments (Co40

Preneed Trust Investments (Components of preneed funeral trust investments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Preneed funeral trust investments	$ 83,132		$ 85,553
Preneed Funeral Trust Investments [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Impairment charge, other than temporary decline in fair value of investments	800	$ 600
Preneed funeral trust investments, at fair value	85,958		88,444
Less: allowance for contract cancellation	(2,826)		(2,891)
Preneed funeral trust investments	$ 83,132		$ 85,553

Preneed Trust Investments (Es41

Preneed Trust Investments (Estimated maturities of fixed preneed funeral trust income securities) (Details) - Preneed Funeral Trust Investments [Member] $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016USD ($)
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Due in one year or less	$ 137
Due in one to five years	9,641
Due in five to ten years	5,682
Thereafter	34,879
Total	$ 50,339

Preneed Trust Investments (Co42

Preneed Trust Investments (Cost and fair market values associated with preneed funeral trust investments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Preneed Cemetery Trust Investments [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost			$ 73,148
Unrealized Gains			796
Unrealized Losses			(9,083)
Fair Market Value			$ 64,861
Fair market value as a percentage of cost	87.20%		88.70%
Impairment charge, other than temporary decline in fair value of investments	$ 700	$ 700
Preneed funeral trust investments, at fair value	62,551		$ 65,486
Preneed Cemetery Trust Investments [Member] | Cash and Money Market Accounts [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	4,611		8,296
Unrealized Gains	0		0
Unrealized Losses	0		0
Fair Market Value	4,611		8,296
Preneed Cemetery Trust Investments [Member] | Municipal Bonds [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	457		458
Unrealized Gains	0		0
Unrealized Losses	(83)		(63)
Fair Market Value	374		395
Preneed Cemetery Trust Investments [Member] | Foreign Government Debt Securities [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	7,437		4,803
Unrealized Gains	110		0
Unrealized Losses	(937)		(695)
Fair Market Value	6,610		4,108
Preneed Cemetery Trust Investments [Member] | Corporate Debt [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	25,871		22,968
Unrealized Gains	699		85
Unrealized Losses	(3,238)		(4,279)
Fair Market Value	23,332		18,774
Preneed Cemetery Trust Investments [Member] | Preferred Stock [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	16,184		16,236
Unrealized Gains	5		29
Unrealized Losses	(1,406)		(885)
Fair Market Value	14,783		15,380
Preneed Cemetery Trust Investments [Member] | Common Stock
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	15,006		20,387
Unrealized Gains	162		682
Unrealized Losses	(4,403)		(3,161)
Fair Market Value	10,765		17,908
Preneed Cemetery Trust Investments [Member] | Mortgage Backed Securities [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost			0
Unrealized Gains			0
Unrealized Losses			0
Fair Market Value			0
Preneed Cemetery Trust Investments [Member] | Accrued Investment Income [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	949		625
Fair Market Value	949		$ 625
Preneed Cemetery Trust Investments [Member] | Fixed Income [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	1,078
Unrealized Gains	49
Unrealized Losses	0
Fair Market Value	1,127
Preneed Cemetery Trust Investments [Member] | Trust Securities [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	70,644
Unrealized Gains	1,025
Unrealized Losses	(10,067)
Fair Market Value	61,602
Preneed Funeral Trust Investments [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	94,207
Unrealized Gains	1,311
Unrealized Losses	(10,601)
Fair Market Value	$ 84,917
Fair market value as a percentage of cost	90.10%		91.10%
Impairment charge, other than temporary decline in fair value of investments	$ 800	$ 600
Preneed funeral trust investments, at fair value	85,958		$ 88,444
Preneed Funeral Trust Investments [Member] | Cash and Money Market Accounts [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	17,828		21,458
Unrealized Gains	0		0
Unrealized Losses	0		0
Fair Market Value	17,828		21,458
Preneed Funeral Trust Investments [Member] | Municipal Bonds [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	478		478
Unrealized Gains	0		0
Unrealized Losses	(87)		(66)
Fair Market Value	391		412
Preneed Funeral Trust Investments [Member] | U.S. Treasury Debt [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	1,491		1,492
Unrealized Gains	48		24
Unrealized Losses	0		(12)
Fair Market Value	1,539		1,504
Preneed Funeral Trust Investments [Member] | Foreign Government Debt Securities [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	7,823		4,938
Unrealized Gains	120		0
Unrealized Losses	(971)		(711)
Fair Market Value	6,972		4,227
Preneed Funeral Trust Investments [Member] | Corporate Debt [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	27,648		24,787
Unrealized Gains	793		133
Unrealized Losses	(3,412)		(4,711)
Fair Market Value	25,029		20,209
Preneed Funeral Trust Investments [Member] | Preferred Stock [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	17,464		17,496
Unrealized Gains	131		158
Unrealized Losses	(1,455)		(914)
Fair Market Value	16,140		16,740
Preneed Funeral Trust Investments [Member] | Common Stock
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	15,528		20,864
Unrealized Gains	160		738
Unrealized Losses	(4,597)		(3,114)
Fair Market Value	11,091		18,488
Preneed Funeral Trust Investments [Member] | Equity [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost			0
Unrealized Gains			0
Unrealized Losses			0
Fair Market Value			0
Preneed Funeral Trust Investments [Member] | Fixed Income [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	2,118
Unrealized Gains	54
Unrealized Losses	(51)
Fair Market Value	2,121
Preneed Funeral Trust Investments [Member] | Mortgage Backed Securities [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	267		273
Unrealized Gains	5		4
Unrealized Losses	(4)		(4)
Fair Market Value	268		273
Preneed Funeral Trust Investments [Member] | Other Investments [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	3,562		3,598
Unrealized Gains	0		0
Unrealized Losses	(24)		(30)
Fair Market Value	3,538		3,568
Preneed Funeral Trust Investments [Member] | Accrued Investment Income [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	1,041		688
Fair Market Value	$ 1,041		688
Preneed Funeral Trust Investments [Member] | Fixed Income [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost			959
Unrealized Gains			0
Unrealized Losses			(82)
Fair Market Value			877
Preneed Funeral Trust Investments [Member] | Trust Securities [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost			96,343
Unrealized Gains			1,057
Unrealized Losses			(9,644)
Fair Market Value			$ 87,756

Preneed Trust Investments (Un43

Preneed Trust Investments (Unrealized losses on preneed funeral trust investments) (Details) - Preneed Funeral Trust Investments [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Impairment charge, other than temporary decline in fair value of investments	$ 800	$ 600
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	20,920		$ 42,577
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	(4,391)		(6,162)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	24,080		15,322
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	(6,210)		(3,482)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	45,000		57,899
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	(10,601)		(9,644)
US States and Political Subdivisions Debt Securities [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value			0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss			0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value			1,504
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss			(12)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value			1,504
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss			(12)
Municipal Bonds [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	139		413
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	(27)		(66)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	252		0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	(60)		0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	391		413
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	(87)		(66)
Foreign Debt [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	2,692		3,763
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	(378)		(392)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	2,158		416
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	(593)		(319)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	4,850		4,179
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	(971)		(711)
Corporate Debt [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	5,470		15,929
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	(825)		(3,294)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	8,783		3,364
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	(2,587)		(1,417)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	14,253		19,293
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	(3,412)		(4,711)
Preferred Stock [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	6,384		10,623
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	(537)		(451)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	8,449		5,338
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	(918)		(463)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	14,833		15,961
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	(1,455)		(914)
Collateralized Mortgage Backed Securities [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	102		0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	(3)		0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	15		272
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	(1)		(4)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	117		272
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	(4)		(4)
Equity [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	6,087		11,848
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	(2,620)		(1,959)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	3,594		3,510
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	(1,977)		(1,154)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	9,681		15,358
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	(4,597)		(3,113)
Equity and Other Funds [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value			0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss			0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value			0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss			0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value			0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss			0
Fixed Income [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	46		1
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	(1)		0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	818		876
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	(50)		(82)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	864		877
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	(51)		(82)
Other Investments [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	0		0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	0		0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	11		42
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	(24)		(31)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	11		42
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	$ (24)		$ (31)

Preneed Trust Investments (Pr44

Preneed Trust Investments (Preneed funeral trust investment security transactions) (Details) - Preneed Funeral Trust Investments [Member] - Interest Income and Other, Net [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Investment income	$ 340	$ 556
Realized gain, net	144	294
Realized losses	(2,396)	(625)
Expenses and taxes	(247)	(260)
Decrease in deferred preneed funeral receipts held in trust	$ 2,159	$ 35

Preneed Trust Investments (Pu45

Preneed Trust Investments (Purchases and sales of investments in preneed funeral trusts) (Details) - Preneed Funeral Trust Investments [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Purchases	$ (11,407)	$ (5,489)
Sales	$ 7,458	$ 2,302

Preneed Cemetery Receivables (N

Preneed Cemetery Receivables (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Preneed Cemetery Receivables [Abstract]
Term of sales contract for cemetery interment rights, maximum (in Duration)	5 years
Preneed Receivables	$ 36.8
Balance of receivables for preneed cemetery interment rights	27
Balance of receivables for preneed cemetery interment related products and services	9.8
Amount of receivables for preneed cemetery interment rights and related products and services presented in accounts receivables	11.2
Amount of receivables for preneed cemetery interment rights and related products and services presented in preneed receivables	25.6
Unearned finance charges associated with receivables	$ 5.3	$ 5.2
Past due notifications starting date (in Days)	15 days
Accounts receivable allowance percentage on contracts past due 120 days or more (in Percent)	100.00%
Number of days past due contractual payments are when they are provided for with a one hundred percent allowance (in Days)	90 days
Percent of total receivables which are 120 days or more past due (in Percent)	4.90%

Preneed Cemetery Receivables (P

Preneed Cemetery Receivables (Preneed cemetery receivables) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Allowance for Contract Cancellations [Roll Forward]
Provision	$ (523)	$ (424)
Preneed Cemetery Receivables [Member]
Allowance for Contract Cancellations [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	1,765
Write-offs and cancellations	(385)
Provision	(399)
Ending balance	$ 1,779

Preneed Cemetery Receivables (A

Preneed Cemetery Receivables (Aging of past due financing receivables) (Details) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016USD ($)
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Past Due [Line Items]
Total Past Due	$ 2,961
Current	33,876
Total Financing Receivables	36,837
Recognized Revenue [Member]
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Past Due [Line Items]
Total Past Due	2,201
Current	23,970
Total Financing Receivables	26,171
Deferred Revenue [Member]
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Past Due [Line Items]
Total Past Due	760
Current	9,906
Total Financing Receivables	10,666
Financing Receivables, 30 to 59 Days Past Due [Member]
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Past Due [Line Items]
Total Past Due	775
Financing Receivables, 30 to 59 Days Past Due [Member] | Recognized Revenue [Member]
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Past Due [Line Items]
Total Past Due	569
Financing Receivables, 30 to 59 Days Past Due [Member] | Deferred Revenue [Member]
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Past Due [Line Items]
Total Past Due	206
Financing Receivables, 60 to 89 Days Past Due [Member]
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Past Due [Line Items]
Total Past Due	470
Financing Receivables, 60 to 89 Days Past Due [Member] | Recognized Revenue [Member]
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Past Due [Line Items]
Total Past Due	351
Financing Receivables, 60 to 89 Days Past Due [Member] | Deferred Revenue [Member]
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Past Due [Line Items]
Total Past Due	119
Financing Receivables, 90 to 120 Days Past Due [Member]
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Past Due [Line Items]
Total Past Due	269
Financing Receivables, 90 to 120 Days Past Due [Member] | Recognized Revenue [Member]
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Past Due [Line Items]
Total Past Due	185
Financing Receivables, 90 to 120 Days Past Due [Member] | Deferred Revenue [Member]
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Past Due [Line Items]
Total Past Due	84
Financing Receivables, Greater Than 120 Days Past Due [Member]
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Past Due [Line Items]
Total Past Due	1,447
Financing Receivables, Greater Than 120 Days Past Due [Member] | Recognized Revenue [Member]
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Past Due [Line Items]
Total Past Due	1,096
Financing Receivables, Greater Than 120 Days Past Due [Member] | Deferred Revenue [Member]
Financing Receivable Recorded Investment Past Due [Line Items]
Total Past Due	$ 351

Receivables from Preneed Trus49

Receivables from Preneed Trusts (Narrative) (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016
Receivables From Preneed Trusts [Abstract]
Amount at which there is no controlling interest in trust assets (Description)	less than 50%

Receivables from Preneed Trus50

Receivables from Preneed Trusts (Receivables from preneed funeral trust funds) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Receivables From Preneed Trusts [Abstract]
Preneed trust funds, at cost	$ 13,454	$ 13,963
Less: Allowance for contract cancellation	(404)	(419)
Receivables from preneed trusts, net	$ 13,050	$ 13,544

Receivables from Preneed Trus51

Receivables from Preneed Trusts Receivables from Preneed Trusts (Composition of Assets Held in Trusts) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Historical Cost Basis [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Assets held-in-trust	$ 13,454	$ 13,963
Historical Cost Basis [Member] | Cash and cash equivalents [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Assets held-in-trust	2,989	2,898
Historical Cost Basis [Member] | Fixed income investments [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Assets held-in-trust	7,941	8,423
Historical Cost Basis [Member] | Mutual funds and common stocks [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Assets held-in-trust	2,508	2,626
Historical Cost Basis [Member] | Annuities [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Assets held-in-trust	16	16
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Assets held-in-trust	13,501	13,965
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Cash and cash equivalents [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Assets held-in-trust	2,989	2,898
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Fixed income investments [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Assets held-in-trust	7,941	8,426
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Mutual funds and common stocks [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Assets held-in-trust	2,555	2,625
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Annuities [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Assets held-in-trust	$ 16	$ 16

Cemetery Perpetual Care Trust52

Cemetery Perpetual Care Trust Investments (The Components of Care trusts' corpus) (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Care trusts’ corpus	$ 41,292,000	$ 42,416,000
Fair value measurements, transfers between Level 1 and Level 2	0
Perpetual Care Trust Invesments [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Trust assets, at market value	41,341,000	43,127,000	$ 43,127,000
Obligations due from trust	(49,000)	(711,000)
Care trusts’ corpus	$ 41,292,000	$ 42,416,000

Cemetery Perpetual Care Trust53

Cemetery Perpetual Care Trust Investments (Cost and fair market values associated with the trust investments held in perpetual care trust funds) (Details) - Perpetual Care Trust Invesments [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	$ 695
Unrealized Gains	34
Unrealized Losses	0
Fair Market Value	729
Cemetary perpetual care trust investments	$ 41,341		$ 43,127	$ 43,127
Fair market value as a percentage of cost	86.90%			88.20%
Impairment charge, other than temporary decline in fair value of investments	$ 400	$ 500
Cash and Money Market Accounts [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	3,085			$ 5,472
Unrealized Gains	0			0
Unrealized Losses	0			0
Fair Market Value	3,085			5,472
Municipal Bonds [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	327			325
Unrealized Gains	0			0
Unrealized Losses	(60)			(45)
Fair Market Value	267			280
Foreign Government Debt Securities [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	4,810			3,232
Unrealized Gains	66			0
Unrealized Losses	(633)			(480)
Fair Market Value	4,243			2,752
Corporate Debt [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	17,495			16,216
Unrealized Gains	422			57
Unrealized Losses	(2,354)			(3,094)
Fair Market Value	15,563			13,179
Preferred Stock [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	11,341			11,263
Unrealized Gains	4			20
Unrealized Losses	(988)			(611)
Fair Market Value	10,357			10,672
Common Stock
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	9,151			11,945
Unrealized Gains	96			393
Unrealized Losses	(2,722)			(1,939)
Fair Market Value	6,525			10,399
Trust Securities [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	46,904			48,453
Unrealized Gains	622			470
Unrealized Losses	(6,757)			(6,169)
Fair Market Value	40,769			42,754
Accrued Investment Income [Member]
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Cost	572			373
Fair Market Value	$ 572			$ 373

Cemetery Perpetual Care Trust54

Cemetery Perpetual Care Trust Investments (Estimated maturities of fixed perpetual care trust income securities) (Details) - Perpetual Care Trust Invesments [Member] $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016USD ($)
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Due in one year or less	$ 77
Due in one to five years	5,405
Due in five to ten years	3,209
Thereafter	21,739
Total	$ 30,430

Cemetery Perpetual Care Trust55

Cemetery Perpetual Care Trust Investments (Unrealized losses on perpetual care trust investments) (Details) - Perpetual Care Trust Invesments [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Impairment charge, other than temporary decline in fair value of investments	$ 400	$ 500
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	15,661		$ 27,763
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	(3,361)		(3,995)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	12,817		8,245
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	(3,395)		(2,174)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	28,478		36,008
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	(6,757)		(6,169)
Municipal Bonds [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	128		280
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	(26)		(45)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	139		0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	(33)		0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	267		280
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	(60)		(45)
Foreign Debt [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	1,878		2,541
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	(306)		(265)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	1,192		281
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	(327)		(215)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	3,070		2,822
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	(633)		(480)
Corporate Debt [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	4,569		10,463
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	(917)		(2,164)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	4,840		2,210
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	(1,437)		(931)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	9,409		12,673
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	(2,354)		(3,095)
Common Stock [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	3,666		7,379
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	(1,631)		(1,220)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	1,986		2,186
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	(1,091)		(719)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	5,652		9,565
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	(2,722)		(1,939)
Preferred Stock [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	5,420		7,100
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Accumulated Loss	(481)		(301)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	4,660		3,568
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, 12 Months or Longer, Accumulated Loss	(507)		(309)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	10,080		10,668
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Accumulated Loss	$ (988)		$ (610)

Cemetery Perpetual Care Trust56

Cemetery Perpetual Care Trust Investments (Perpetual care trust investment security transactions recorded in interest income and other, net) (Details) - Perpetual Care Trust Invesments [Member] - Interest Income and Other, Net [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Realized gains	$ 47	$ 190
Realized losses	(1,249)	(425)
Decrease in care trusts’ corpus	$ 1,202	$ 235

Cemetery Perpetual Care Trust57

Cemetery Perpetual Care Trust Investments (Perpetual care trust investment security transactions recorded in Cemetery revenue) (Details) - Perpetual Care Trust Invesments [Member] - Cemetery Revenue [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Investment income	$ 1,476	$ 1,168
Realized gain, net	262	91
Total	$ 1,214	$ 1,077

Cemetery Perpetual Care Trust58

Cemetery Perpetual Care Trust Investments (Purchases and sales of investments in perpetual care trusts) (Details) - Perpetual Care Trust Invesments [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]
Purchases	$ (6,758)	$ (4,634)
Sales	$ 4,748	$ 1,822

Fair Value Measurements (Narrat

Fair Value Measurements (Narrative) (Details)	Mar. 31, 2016USD ($)
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Liabilities measured at fair value	$ 0
Convertible Subordinated Notes [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Long-term debt measured at fair value	$ 157,900,000

Deferred Charges and Other No60

Deferred Charges and Other Non-Current Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Deferred Finance Costs, Net	$ 1,498		$ 1,445
Other Assets, Noncurrent	0		210
Deferred Costs and Other Assets	10,748		10,978
Tradenames [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Other Assets, Noncurrent	8,856		8,856
Noncompete Agreements [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	1,892		1,912
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	5,507		$ 5,404
Amortization of Intangible Assets	$ 100	$ 100
Noncompete Agreements [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life	1 year
Noncompete Agreements [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life	10 years

Long-Term Debt (Long-term Debt

Long-Term Debt (Long-term Debt Table) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Deferred Finance Costs, Net	$ (1,498)	$ (1,445)
Current maturities on long-term debt	(12,305)	(12,012)
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities	192,046	195,009
Credit Agreement [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Carrying value of the liability component		92,600
Credit Agreement [Member] | Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Carrying value of the liability component	147,187	110,937
Notes Payable, Other Payables [Member] | Acquisition Debt, Deferred Purchase Price [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Carrying value of the liability component	$ 4,662	$ 4,929

Long-Term Debt (Narrative) (Det

Long-Term Debt (Narrative) (Details)	Feb. 09, 2016USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2020USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2018USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015USD ($)
Debt Covenant To Actual Ratios [Line Items]
Revolving credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity				$ 300,000,000
Revolving credit facility present accordion provisions				$ 75,000,000
Term Number Two [Member]
Debt Covenant To Actual Ratios [Line Items]
Ratio of indebtedness to net capital (in Ratio) (below at March 31, 2015)				3.5
Ratio Minimum Per Covenant [Member]
Debt Covenant To Actual Ratios [Line Items]
Ratio of earnings to fixed cost obligations (in Ratio)				1.2
Ratio Actual [Member]
Debt Covenant To Actual Ratios [Line Items]
Ratio of indebtedness to net capital (in Ratio) (below at March 31, 2015)				3.05
Ratio of earnings to fixed cost obligations (in Ratio)				2.54
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Covenant To Actual Ratios [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Current Borrowing Capacity	$ 150,000,000
Line of Credit Facility, Potential Increase to Borrowing Capacity	75,000,000
Revolving credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity				$ 150,000,000
Credit Facility, Term Note [Member]
Debt Covenant To Actual Ratios [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Current Borrowing Capacity	$ 150,000,000
Repayments of Lines of Credit				2,810,000
Term Loan [Member]
Debt Covenant To Actual Ratios [Line Items]
Revolving credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity				150,000,000
Credit Agreement [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Covenant To Actual Ratios [Line Items]
Amount drawn under term loan facility				$ 54,000,000
Credit Agreement [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | QTD [Member]
Debt Covenant To Actual Ratios [Line Items]
Weighted average interest rate				2.70%
Credit Agreement [Member] | Term Loan [Member]
Debt Covenant To Actual Ratios [Line Items]
Amount drawn under term loan facility				$ 147,200,000
Letters of credit issued and outstanding				0
Line of Credit [Member]
Debt Covenant To Actual Ratios [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Change in Basis Spread on Variable Rate	(3750.00%)
Number of Days Prior to the Maturity of Subordinated Debt the Credit Agreement Matures	91 days
Convertible Subordinated Notes [Member]
Debt Covenant To Actual Ratios [Line Items]
Carrying value of the liability component	$ 143,750,000			$ 116,278,000	$ 115,227,000
Write off of Deferred Debt Issuance Cost	$ 570,000
Forecast | Credit Facility, Term Note [Member]
Debt Covenant To Actual Ratios [Line Items]
Repayments of Lines of Credit		$ 4,690,000	$ 3,750,000
Prime Rate Option [Member] | Line of Credit [Member]
Debt Covenant To Actual Ratios [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate				1.125%
Libor Margin Option [Member] | Line of Credit [Member]
Debt Covenant To Actual Ratios [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate				2.125%

Convertible Subordinated Note63

Convertible Subordinated Notes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Feb. 09, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Mar. 19, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Effect of dilutive securities, Convertible junior subordinated debentures (in shares)	0	348,000
Carrying Values of Liability and Equity Components, Convertible Subordinated Notes
Deferred Finance Costs, Net	$ (1,498)			$ (1,445)
Amortization of debt issuance costs	221	$ 226
Convertible Subordinated Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate percentage						2.75%
Carrying Values of Liability and Equity Components, Convertible Subordinated Notes
Convertible subordinated notes, principal amount	143,750			143,750		$ 143,750
Unamortized discount of liability component	(24,827)			(25,754)
Deferred Finance Costs, Net	(2,645)			(2,769)
Carrying value of the liability component	116,278		$ 143,750	115,227
Equity component carrying value	17,973			$ 17,973
Convertible subordinated notes, fair value	157,900
Contractual coupon interest expense	1,000	1,000
Amortization of debt issuance costs	100	100
Accretion of discount, convertible subordinated notes	$ 900	$ 800
Effective interest rate percentage	2.75%	6.75%			6.75%

Stockholders' Equity (Narrative

Stockholders' Equity (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	Feb. 23, 2016	Mar. 25, 2015	Feb. 24, 2015	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized share based compensation, expected term (in Duration)				2 years
Directors compensation expense				$ 124	$ 92
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared				$ 0.025	$ 0.025
Stock Repurchase Program, Number of Shares Authorized to be Repurchased				25,000,000
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash				$ 400
ESPP
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Shares purchased through Employee Stock Purchase Plan (in Shares)				12,472
Weighted average purchase price of ESPP shares purchased during the period (in Dollars per share)				$ 18.37
Share-based compensation expense				$ 77	$ 73
Restricted Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based compensation expense				$ 300	400
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period				16,900
Stock Granted, Value, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures				$ 300
Unrecognized share based compensation				$ 2,500
Restricted Stock | Minimum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based compensation awards, annual vesting percentage				25.00%
Restricted Stock | Maximum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based compensation awards, annual vesting percentage				33.33%
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period				3 years
Stock Options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share based compensation awards, options outstanding at period end (in Shares)				1,869,754
Share based compensation awards, options outstanding and unvested at period end (in Shares)				799,067
Share-based compensation awards, annual vesting percentage		33.33%	33.33%
Share-based compensation expense				$ 600	$ 600
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period				5 years
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Expiration Period				10 years
Stock Granted, Value, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures				$ 1,300
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Gross	235,500
Share-based Compensation Arrangements by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price				$ 20.06

Stockholders' Equity (Options)

Stockholders' Equity (Options) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	Feb. 23, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share Price	$ 5.60
Stock Options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Gross	235,500
Share-based Compensation Arrangements by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price		$ 20.06
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period		5 years
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Expiration Period		10 years
Stock Granted, Value, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures		$ 1.3
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense		$ 0.6	$ 0.6
Expected dividend yield assumption (in Percent)	0.50%
Expected volatility assumption (in Percent)	31.85%
Risk-free interest rate assumption (in Percent)	1.23%
Expected life assumption (in Years)	5 years

Stockholders' Equity Stockholde

Stockholders' Equity Stockholders' Equity (Performance Awards) (Details) - USD ($)	Feb. 23, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Fair Value Assumptions, Simulation Period	4 years 10 months 10 days
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	$ 20.06
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement, By Share-Based Payment Award, Equity Instrument Other Than Options, Percent Represented By EBITDA		25.00%
Share-Based Compensation Aggrangement, By Share-Based Payment Award, Equity Instrument Other Than Options, Percent Represented By Relative Shareholder Return Performance		75.00%
Directors compensation expense		$ 124,000	$ 92,000
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement By Share-Based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Forfeiture Rate	2.00%
Performance Shares [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Expected volatility assumption (in Percent)	31.20%
Risk-free interest rate assumption (in Percent)	1.21%
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period		73,700
Officers And Key Employees [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement By Share-Based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other Than Options, Granted In Period, Fair Value		$ 1,605,186
Directors compensation expense		$ 27,000

Stockholders' Equity (ESPP) (De

Stockholders' Equity (ESPP) (Details) - ESPP - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based compensation expense	$ 77	$ 73
Expected dividend yield assumption (in Percent)	0.50%
Expected volatility assumption (in Percent)	24.71%
Risk-free interest rate assumption (in Percent)	22.00%
Expected life assumption (in Years)	3 months
Forecast
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Risk-free interest rate assumption (in Percent)			49.00%	55.00%	61.00%
Expected life assumption (in Years)			6 months	9 months	1 year

Stockholders' Equity (AOCI) (De

Stockholders' Equity (AOCI) (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016USD ($)
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Beginning balance	$ 0
Decrease in net unrealized gains associated with available-for-sale securities of the trusts	(24,467)
Reclassification of net unrealized gain activity attributable to the Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust and Care trusts’ corpus	24,467
Ending balance	$ 0

Major Segments of Business (Rev

Major Segments of Business (Revenue, pre-tax income and total and total assets by segments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from continuing operations	$ 63,331	$ 63,253
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	7,618	11,023
Total assets	827,178		$ 833,139
Funeral [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from continuing operations	49,302	50,137
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	16,729	17,798
Total assets	591,785		591,389
Cemetery [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from continuing operations	14,029	13,116
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	4,249	4,046
Total assets	225,301		229,479
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues from continuing operations	0	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(13,360)	$ (10,821)
Total assets	$ 10,092		$ 12,271

Earnings Per Share (EPS Computa

Earnings Per Share (EPS Computations) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income	$ 4,571	$ 6,418
Less: Earnings allocated to unvested restricted stock	(41)	(100)
Income attributable to common stockholders	$ 4,530	$ 6,318
Denominator [Abstract]
Denominator for basic earnings per common share - weighted average shares outstanding	16,459,000	18,208,000
Effect of dilutive securities, Stock options (in shares)	191,000	248,000
Effect of dilutive securities, Convertible junior subordinated debentures (in shares)	0	348,000
Weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding for diluted EPS computation	16,650,000	18,804,000
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
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of diluted EPS	538,000	25,000

Subsequent Events Subsequent Ev

Subsequent Events Subsequent Events (Details)	1 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2016USD ($)
Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Release Agreement Costs	$ 1,801,400