Supplementary Information Level 4 (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2008
Cash and cash equivalents:
Cash	$ 67,937	$ 78,382
Commercial paper and temporary investments	60,632	92,464
Cash and cash equivalents	128,569	170,846	179,745	128,397
Receivables, net:
Notes receivable	1,313	1,395
Other	12,639	9,702
Receivables, net	103,892	107,185
Other current assets:
Income tax receivable	8,670	14,499
Prepaid insurance	4,221	4,182
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Current	4,138	3,650
Other Assets, Current	8,774	5,415
Other	25,803	27,746
Cemetery Property, Undeveloped Land	1,072,170	1,083,290
Cemetery Property, Developed	425,533	425,497
Cemetery property, at cost	1,497,703	1,508,787
Land	515,100	509,100
Buildings and Improvements, Gross	1,526,290	1,496,310
Machinery and Equipment, Gross	456,852	427,607
Leasehold Improvements, Gross	24,717	23,302
Capital Leased Assets, Gross	168,538	156,235
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	2,691,497	2,612,554
Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment	(976,823)	(891,846)
Capital Leases, Lessee Balance Sheet, Assets by Major Class, Property, Plant, and Equipment Other, Accumulated Depreciation	(96,313)	(93,010)
Property and equipment, net	1,618,361	1,627,698
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill)	253,251	219,489
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Noncurrent	6,903	14,755
Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Noncurrent	6,932	631
Deferred Tax Assets, Gross, Noncurrent		0
Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Net, Noncurrent	11,488	11,781
Allowance for Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Noncurrent	1,665	3,111
Other Liabilities, Noncurrent	74,486	78,137
Cash Surrender Value of Life Insurance	77,791	72,420
Accounts payable	115,302	116,543
Accrued compensation	82,145	69,988
Accrued dividend	11,027	9,602	10,161
Interest Payable, Current	22,555	22,923
Accrual for Taxes Other than Income Taxes, Current	13,057	13,726
Self Insurance Reserve, Current	52,697	53,892
Bank Overdrafts	15,309	15,582
Other Accrued Liabilities, Current	46,812	40,395
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	358,904	342,651
Defined Benefit Pension Plan, Liabilities, Noncurrent	29,214	31,377
Deferred Compensation Liability, Classified, Noncurrent	49,711	42,246
Customer Funds	76,270	75,517
Tax liability	207,701	201,183
Indemnification Liability	2,490	2,689
Other Assets, Noncurrent	49,387	46,608
Total merchandise revenues	1,031,225	971,252	896,927
Total services revenues	1,164,123	1,116,399	1,065,474
Other revenues	120,692	102,901	91,119
Total revenues	2,316,040	2,190,552	2,053,520
Total cost of merchandise	480,579	451,769	418,420
Total cost of services	594,259	548,454	518,778
Overhead and other expenses	762,666	741,106	694,927
Total costs and expenses	1,837,504	1,741,329	1,632,125
Financing held in Escrow	0	0	147,173
Deferred charges and other assets	430,851	396,582
Other liabilities	414,773	399,620
Funeral [Member]
Receivables, net:
Accounts Receivable, Net, Current	77,103	85,853
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current	7,755	10,852
Other current assets:
Cash Surrender Value of Life Insurance	277,650	220,287
Total merchandise revenues	514,548	489,744	450,892
Total services revenues	968,747	930,163	882,186
Total cost of merchandise	258,173	247,104	226,931
Total cost of services	496,557	453,678	419,855
Cemetery [Member]
Receivables, net:
Accounts Receivable, Net, Current	12,837	10,235
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current	1,989	3,121
Other current assets:
Cash Surrender Value of Life Insurance	5	9,158
Total merchandise revenues	516,677	481,508	446,035
Total services revenues	195,376	186,236	183,288
Total cost of merchandise	222,406	204,665	191,489
Total cost of services	$ 97,702	$ 94,776	$ 98,923