Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 146,232	$ 127,001	$ 123,093
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Losses (gains) on early extinguishment of debt, net	3,509	9,400	(3,146)
Depreciation and amortization	118,047	116,391	111,102
Amortization of intangible assets	25,591	25,197	21,698
Amortization of cemetery property	40,046	32,418	30,664
Amortization of loan costs	4,436	4,266	7,575
Provision for doubtful accounts	9,251	8,155	11,351
Provision for deferred income taxes	66,512	76,934	57,866
Losses (gains) on divestitures and impairment charges, net	10,977	(8,512)	(4,253)
Share-based compensation	9,144	8,878	9,684
Change in assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions and divestitures:
Increase in receivables	(3,322)	(14,561)	(8,245)
Decrease in other assets	6,815	2,603	11,161
Increase in payables and other liabilities	14,610	16,374	30,899
Effect of preneed funeral production and maturities:
Decrease in preneed funeral receivables, net and trust investments	69,688	45,988	18,963
(Decrease) increase in deferred preneed funeral revenue	(32,158)	(14,778)	92
Decrease in deferred preneed funeral receipts held in trust	(50,591)	(36,322)	(22,558)
Effect of cemetery production and deliveries:
Increase in preneed cemetery receivables, net and trust investments	(65,581)	(53,224)	(41,427)
Increase in deferred preneed cemetery revenue	23,636	10,558	24,999
Decrease in deferred preneed cemetery receipts held in trust	(9,419)	(648)	(11,702)
Other	689	(1,739)	4,254
Net cash provided by operating activities	388,112	354,379	372,070
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(118,375)	(97,899)	(83,790)
Acquisitions	(99,570)	(299,083)	(84,932)
Proceeds from divestitures and sales of property and equipment, net	24,529	90,835	32,696
Net withdrawals (deposits) of restricted funds and other	3,159	26,437	(16,459)
Net cash used in investing activities	(190,257)	(279,710)	(152,485)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	85,000	510,000	150,000
Debt issuance costs	0	(11,828)	(8,146)
Payments of debt	(22,774)	(263,063)	(33,058)
Early extinguishment of debt	(43,194)	(119,105)	(236,114)
Principal payments on capital leases	(23,030)	(46,214)	(24,288)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	8,227	1,759	17,407
Purchase of Company common stock	(197,302)	(116,878)	0
Payments of dividends	(44,795)	(40,001)	(40,195)
Bank overdrafts and other	(798)	(2,856)	(4,036)
Net cash used in financing activities	(238,666)	(88,186)	(178,430)
Effect of foreign currency	(1,466)	4,618	10,193
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(42,277)	(8,899)	51,348
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	170,846	179,745	128,397
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 128,569	$ 170,846	$ 179,745