Segment Reporting (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block]

Our reportable segment information is as follows:

	Funeral		Cemetery		Reportable Segments
	(In thousands)
Three Months Ended March 31,
Revenues from external customers:
2015	$	507,656	$	240,461	$	748,117
2014	$	509,045	$	236,450	$	745,495
Gross profits:
2015	$	124,679	$	53,270	$	177,949
2014	$	119,220	$	46,842	$	166,062

Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated [Table Text Block]

The following table reconciles gross profits from reportable segments to our consolidated income before income taxes:

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2015			2014
	(In thousands)
Gross profits from reportable segments	$	177,949		$	166,062
General and administrative expenses	(35,055		)	(55,830		)
Losses on divestitures and impairment charges, net	(1,779		)	(2,812		)
Operating income	141,115			107,420
Interest expense	(42,939		)	(44,996		)
Other expense (income), net	(58		)	1,534
Income before income taxes	$	98,118		$	63,958

Schedule of Disclosure on Geographic Areas, Long-Lived Assets in Individual Foreign Countries by Country [Table Text Block]

Our geographic area information is as follows:

	United States		Canada		Total
			(In thousands)
Three Months Ended March 31,
Revenues from external customers:
2015	$	700,452	$	47,665	$	748,117
2014	$	694,369	$	51,126	$	745,495