Segment Reporting (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

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,
Revenue from external customers:
2017	$	498,764	$	278,946	$	777,710
2016	$	492,189	$	257,030	$	749,219
Operating profit:
2017	$	112,607	$	64,558	$	177,165
2016	$	107,211	$	55,712	$	162,923

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

The following table reconciles operating profit from reportable segments to our consolidated income before income taxes:

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2017			2016
Operating profit from reportable segments	$	177,165		$	162,923
General and administrative expenses	(42,504		)	(38,904		)
Gains (losses) on divestitures and impairment charges, net	4,935			(347		)
Operating income	139,596			123,672
Interest expense	(40,636		)	(43,082		)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	—			(581		)
Other expense, net	(434		)	(242		)
Income before income taxes	$	98,526		$	79,767

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,
Revenue from external customers:
2017	$	727,240	$	50,470	$	777,710
2016	$	708,887	$	40,332	$	749,219