Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information (Supplemental disclosure for the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Business Segment [Line Items]
Cash paid for interest and financing costs	$ 8,894	$ 12,248	$ 21,518
Cash paid for taxes	2,674	655	416
Fair value of stock, stock options and performance awards issued to directors, officers, and certain other employees	8,219	3,822	4,631
Restricted common stock withheld for payroll taxes	1,305	1,610	421
Preneed Funeral Trust
Business Segment [Line Items]
Net deposits or withdrawals into or from preneed trust accounts	(418)	(3,891)	4,341
Net (deposits) withdrawals of receivables into / from preneed trusts	(1,643)	709	(3,677)
Net deposits or withdrawals into or from preneed trust accounts, increasing or decreasing deferred preneed receipts	418	3,891	(4,341)
Preneed Cemetery Trust
Business Segment [Line Items]
Net deposits or withdrawals into or from preneed trust accounts	1	(1,324)	2,482
Net deposits or withdrawals into or from preneed trust accounts, increasing or decreasing deferred preneed receipts	(1)	1,324	(2,482)
Perpetual Care Trust
Business Segment [Line Items]
Net deposits or withdrawals into or from preneed trust accounts	1,857	3,091	3,513
Net withdrawals from perpetual care trust accounts decreasing care trusts’ corpus	(1,901)	(2,949)	(4,028)
Preneed Funeral Receivables
Business Segment [Line Items]
Net increase or decrease in preneed receivables	(1,731)	(1,331)	(422)
Net change in preneed receivables increasing or decreasing deferred revenue	677	860	(874)
Preneed Cemetery Receivables
Business Segment [Line Items]
Net change in preneed receivables increasing or decreasing deferred revenue	$ (374)	$ 327	$ 4,594