HOUSTON, Dec. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Carriage Services, Inc. (NYSE: CSV) is pleased to announce today the acquisition of Havenbrook Funeral Home in Norman, Oklahoma. Havenbrook is the leading funeral service business in this growing traditional market, serving over 320 client families annually. Moreover, Havenbrook will operate in tandem with Moore Funeral and Cremation in nearby Moore, Oklahoma, another Carriage business operating in the south Oklahoma City market. Founded in 1995 by Jeannie Roberts and family, the Vice family assumed ownership of Havenbrook in 2010, initiated a complete renovation of the funeral home and continued to grow the business by providing the highest quality of personalized services to client families in the Norman community.  Chad Vice, along with wife Jennifer, brother Shane, and their mother Barbara will all remain involved in the business. Chad will serve as the Managing Partner of both Havenbrook and Moore Funeral and Cremation and will join Carriage's Central Region Standards Council, a prestigious group of the best funeral service leaders and operators from within Carriage's portfolio of premier businesses. 

Mel Payne, Chairman and CEO of Carriage, stated, "We are extremely honored and excited about our affiliation with Havenbrook Funeral Home and the Vice family, which is consistent with our growth strategy of affiliating with the best remaining independent businesses in a select number of strong demographic markets. We have known Chad and his family for many years, and now with our comprehensive back office support services, his entrepreneurial leadership and heavy family involvement in the community will be a catalyst for accelerated market share growth in the Norman and Moore markets."

Carriage Services is a leading provider of death care services and merchandise in the United States.  Carriage operates 167 funeral homes in 26 states and 33 cemeteries in 12 states.

Certain statements made herein or elsewhere by, or on behalf of, the Company that are not historical facts are intended to be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements are based on assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable; however, many important factors, as discussed under "Forward-Looking Statements and Cautionary Statements" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, could cause the Company's results in the future to differ materially from the forward-looking statements made herein and in any other documents or oral presentations made by, or on behalf of, the Company. The Company assumes no obligation to update or publicly release any revisions to forward-looking statements made herein or any other forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, the Company. A copy of the Company's Form 10-K, and other Carriage Services information and news releases, are available at www.carriageservices.com.

SOURCE Carriage Services, Inc.