Acquisition Level 1 (Notes)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Acquisition [Abstract]

Business Combination Disclosure [Text Block]

Acquisitions

Neptune

The Company acquired 70% of the outstanding shares of The Neptune Society, Inc. (Neptune) on June 3, 2011 for $44 million. Neptune is the nation's largest direct cremation organization which had a network of 30 locations in nine states at acquisition. Neptune operates under the brand names Neptune Society, Neptune Cremation Service, and Trident Society. With this acquisition we will be expanding the footprint into a sector of the market that will continue to grow and that we do not currently target through our traditional funeral service and cemetery network. We have not completed our purchase price allocation as we are still reviewing the underlying accounting records.