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