Preneed Trust Investments Preneed Trust Investments (Unrealized losses on cemetery merchandise and service trust investments) (Details) (Preneed Cemetery Trust Investments, USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Fair market value, In Loss Position Less than12 months	$ 40,926	$ 23,041
Unrealized Losses, In Loss Position Less than12 months	(2,215)	(1,000)
Fair market value, In Loss Position Greater than12 months	5,317	1,474
Unrealized Losses, In Loss Position Greater than12 months	(1,480)	(693)
Fair market value, Total	46,243	24,515
Unrealized Losses, Total	3,695	1,693
Foreign debt
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Fair market value, In Loss Position Less than12 months	5,629	802
Unrealized Losses, In Loss Position Less than12 months	(237)	(3)
Fair market value, In Loss Position Greater than12 months	0	0
Unrealized Losses, In Loss Position Greater than12 months	0	0
Fair market value, Total	5,629	802
Unrealized Losses, Total	237	3
Corporate debt
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Fair market value, In Loss Position Less than12 months	18,051	11,561
Unrealized Losses, In Loss Position Less than12 months	(778)	(553)
Fair market value, In Loss Position Greater than12 months	2,016	769
Unrealized Losses, In Loss Position Greater than12 months	(1,389)	(597)
Fair market value, Total	20,067	12,330
Unrealized Losses, Total	2,167	1,150
Preferred stock
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Fair market value, In Loss Position Less than12 months	10,342	9,601
Unrealized Losses, In Loss Position Less than12 months	(289)	(273)
Fair market value, In Loss Position Greater than12 months	3,236	0
Unrealized Losses, In Loss Position Greater than12 months	(36)	0
Fair market value, Total	13,578	9,601
Unrealized Losses, Total	325	273
Common stock
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Fair market value, In Loss Position Less than12 months	6,904	1,077
Unrealized Losses, In Loss Position Less than12 months	(911)	(171)
Fair market value, In Loss Position Greater than12 months	65	705
Unrealized Losses, In Loss Position Greater than12 months	(55)	(96)
Fair market value, Total	6,969	1,782
Unrealized Losses, Total	$ 966	$ 267

Preneed Trust Investments Preneed Trust Investments (Unrealized losses on cemetery merchandise and service trust investments) (Details) (Preneed Cemetery Trust Investments, USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified