| Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block] |
Segment Reporting Our operations are both product-based and geographically-based, and the reportable operating segments presented below include our funeral and cemetery operations. Our geographic areas include the United States and Canada, where we conduct both funeral and cemetery operations. Our reportable segment information is as follows: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Funeral | | Cemetery | | Reportable Segments | | (In thousands) | Three months ended September 30, | | | | | | Revenue from external customers: | | | | | | 2016 | $ | 445,462 |
| | $ | 276,005 |
| | $ | 721,467 |
| 2015 | $ | 449,300 |
| | $ | 265,153 |
| | $ | 714,453 |
| Gross profit: | | | | | | 2016 | $ | 75,576 |
| | $ | 65,169 |
| | $ | 140,745 |
| 2015 | $ | 77,734 |
| | $ | 63,945 |
| | $ | 141,679 |
| Nine months ended September 30, | | | | | | Revenue from external customers: | | | | | | 2016 | $ | 1,404,623 |
| | $ | 817,460 |
| | $ | 2,222,083 |
| 2015 | $ | 1,428,469 |
| | $ | 788,292 |
| | $ | 2,216,761 |
| Gross profit: | | | | | | 2016 | $ | 273,938 |
| | $ | 191,720 |
| | $ | 465,658 |
| 2015 | $ | 299,769 |
| | $ | 187,018 |
| | $ | 486,787 |
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The following table reconciles gross profit from reportable segments to our consolidated income before income taxes: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Three Months Ended | | Nine Months Ended | | | September 30, | | September 30, | | | 2016 | | 2015 | | 2016 | | 2015 | | (In thousands) | Gross profit from reportable segments | | $ | 140,745 |
| | $ | 141,679 |
| | $ | 465,658 |
| | $ | 486,787 |
| General and administrative expenses | | (26,916 | ) | | (27,895 | ) | | (102,668 | ) | | (96,947 | ) | Gains (losses) on divestitures and impairment charges, net | | 557 |
| | 10,764 |
| | (30,432 | ) | | 3,403 |
| Operating income | | 114,386 |
| | 124,548 |
| | 332,558 |
| | 393,243 |
| Interest expense | | (39,508 | ) | | (43,921 | ) | | (121,988 | ) | | (129,842 | ) | Loss on early extinguishment of debt | | (25 | ) | | (6,918 | ) | | (22,503 | ) | | (6,918 | ) | Other income (expense), net | | 110 |
| | 336 |
| | (697 | ) | | 169 |
| Income before income taxes | | $ | 74,963 |
| | $ | 74,045 |
| | $ | 187,370 |
| | $ | 256,652 |
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Our geographic area information is as follows: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | United States | | Canada | | Total | | | | (In thousands) | | | Three months ended September 30, | | | | | | Revenue from external customers: | | | | | | 2016 | $ | 681,769 |
| | $ | 39,698 |
| | $ | 721,467 |
| 2015 | $ | 671,785 |
| | $ | 42,668 |
| | $ | 714,453 |
| Nine months ended September 30, | | | | | | Revenue from external customers: | | | | | | 2016 | $ | 2,098,091 |
| | $ | 123,992 |
| | $ | 2,222,083 |
| 2015 | $ | 2,077,143 |
| | $ | 139,618 |
| | $ | 2,216,761 |
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