HOUSTON, Dec. 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Carriage Services, Inc. (NYSE: CSV) announced today that it has acquired Crespo & Jirrels Funeral and Cremation Services of Baytown, Texas. The funeral home was founded in 1987 by its original owners, the Krizak family, but ultimately changed hands in 2001 under the new ownership of Anthony and Madeleine Crespo. The business serves over 200 families per year and continues an expansion of Carriage’s footprint in this section of Harris County. We are pleased to announce that Anthony Crespo has been named the business’s Managing Partner while Madeleine Crespo will continue on with the business in a consulting capacity.

Melvin C. Payne, Chairman and CEO of Carriage, stated, “With our Sterling-White business located less than five miles away, the acquisition of Crespo & Jirrels will help strengthen our competitive position in this growing market, and allow Carriage to continue to deliver upon its goal of partnering with the finest independent operators in the industry.”

Carriage Services is a leading provider of death care services and merchandise in the United States. Carriage operates 166 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.