CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) - USD ($)
shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017
Mar. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Total revenues $ 68,157 $ 63,331
Field costs and expenses:    
Total field costs and expenses 45,065 42,028
Depreciation and amortization 3,471 3,336
Regional and unallocated funeral and cemetery costs 2,954 3,049
Gross profit 23,092 21,303
Corporate costs and expenses:    
General, administrative and other 6,847 9,247
Home office depreciation and amortization 376 398
Total corporate costs and expenses 7,223 9,645
Operating income 15,869 11,658
Interest expense (3,029) (2,851)
Accretion of discount on convertible subordinated notes (1,037) (927)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt 0 (567)
Other, net 3 305
Income before income taxes 11,806 7,618
Provision for income taxes (4,722) (3,047)
Net income $ 7,084 $ 4,571
Basic earnings per common share:    
Continuing operations (in dollars per Share) $ 0.42 $ 0.27
Continuing operations (in dollars per Share) 0.39 0.27
Dividends declared per common share (in dollars per Share) $ 0.050 $ 0.025
Weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding:    
Basic (in Shares) 16,597 16,459
Diluted (in Shares) 18,082 16,650
Funeral [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Total revenues $ 54,211 $ 49,302
Field costs and expenses:    
Total field costs and expenses 30,429 27,781
Corporate costs and expenses:    
Income before income taxes 18,822 16,729
Cemetery [Member]    
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]    
Total revenues 13,946 14,029
Field costs and expenses:    
Total field costs and expenses 8,211 7,862
Corporate costs and expenses:    
Income before income taxes $ 4,212 $ 4,249