Segment Reporting (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

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 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

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

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

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 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