Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 149,104	$ 154,135	$ 146,232
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Losses (gains) on early extinguishment of debt, net	(468)	22,706	3,509
Depreciation and amortization	122,602	120,227	118,047
Amortization of intangible assets	21,859	23,853	25,591
Amortization of cemetery property	48,344	44,976	40,046
Amortization of loan costs	15,943	4,905	4,436
Provision for doubtful accounts	7,874	9,705	9,251
Provision for deferred income taxes	74,100	72,984	66,512
Losses on divestitures and impairment charges, net	6,263	1,533	10,977
Share-based compensation	11,925	10,983	9,144
Change in assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions and divestitures:
Decrease (increase) in receivables	10,952	(16,890)	(7,840)
(Increase) decrease in other assets	(14,697)	(6,714)	6,815
(Decrease) increase in payables and other liabilities	(284)	25,240	14,610
Effect of preneed funeral production and maturities:
Decrease in preneed funeral receivables, net and trust investments	47,685	46,055	74,206
Decrease in deferred preneed funeral revenue	(9,874)	(41,813)	(32,158)
Decrease in deferred preneed funeral receipts held in trust	(50,990)	(22,357)	(50,591)
Effect of cemetery production and deliveries:
Increase in preneed cemetery receivables, net and trust investments	(73,626)	(96,837)	(65,581)
Increase in deferred preneed cemetery revenue	30,785	20,817	23,636
Decrease in deferred preneed cemetery receipts held in trust	(12,761)	(587)	(9,419)
Other	(27)	(3,675)	689
Net cash provided by operating activities	384,709	369,246	388,112
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(113,084)	(115,628)	(118,375)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	1,057,122	65,463	99,570
Proceeds from divestitures and sales of property and equipment	13,072	9,953	24,529
Other	(341)	3,816	(3,159)
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,156,793)	(174,954)	(190,257)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract]
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	1,055,000	227,507	85,000
Debt issuance costs	(36,064)	(4,500)	0
Repayments of Long-term Debt	(91,836)	(1,145)	(22,774)
Early Repayment of Subordinated Debt	(80)	(202,140)	(43,194)
Principal payments on capital leases	(26,280)	(25,760)	(23,030)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	6,309	18,389	8,227
Purchase of Company common stock	(1,708)	(186,766)	(197,302)
Payments of Dividends, Common Stock	57,229	60,296	44,795
Purchase of noncontrolling interest	(23,333)	(3,000)	0
Bank overdrafts and other	336	6,199	(798)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	825,115	(231,512)	(238,666)
Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash and Cash Equivalents	(866)	1,359	(1,466)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	52,165	(35,861)	(42,277)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	92,708	128,569	170,846
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 144,873	$ 92,708	$ 128,569