Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Allowance for bad debts, current portion
Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of year	$ 746	$ 729	$ 802
Charged to costs and expenses	1,248	1,155	966
Deduction	1,159	1,138	1,039
Balance at end of year	835	746	729
Allowance for receivables from preneed funeral and cemetery trusts and contract cancellations, non-current portion
Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of year	2,166	2,042	2,339
Charged to costs and expenses	950	943	712
Deduction	838	819	1,009
Balance at end of year	2,278	2,166	2,042
Employee severance accruals
Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of year	1,517	280	216
Charged to costs and expenses	571	3,641	698
Deduction	2,088	2,404	634
Balance at end of year	0	1,517	280
Litigation reserves
Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of year		0	3
Charged to costs and expenses			0
Deduction			3
Balance at end of year			0
Valuation allowance of the deferred tax asset
Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of year	209	189	330
Charged to costs and expenses	35	20	0
Deduction	0	0	141
Balance at end of year	$ 244	$ 209	$ 189