Deferred Preneed Funeral and Cemetery Receipts Held in Trust and Care Trusts' Corpus Level 4 (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Components of Other Income, Nonoperating [Line Items]
Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust, excluding accrued expenses	$ 3,253,392	$ 2,628,030
Accrued trust operating payables and other	(2,806)	(3,709)
Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust	3,250,586	2,624,321
Care trusts’ corpus	1,345,874	1,098,752
Total other income, net	(559)	3,668	(772)
Operating Segments [Member]
Components of Other Income, Nonoperating [Line Items]
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	184,264	159,961	162,714
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	(27,063)	(57,446)	(104,361)
Impairment charges	(2,596)	(2,365)	(54,151)
Interest, dividend, and other ordinary income	72,891	68,293	84,652
Trust expenses and income taxes	(28,632)	(25,429)	(20,656)
Net trust investment income	198,864	143,014	68,198
Investment Income, Nonoperating, Effect on Deferred Preneed Receipts Held in Trust and Care Trust Corpus'	(198,864)	(143,014)	(68,198)
Other income, net	(559)	3,668	(772)
Total other income, net	(559)	3,668	(772)
Funeral [Member]
Components of Other Income, Nonoperating [Line Items]
Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust, excluding accrued expenses	1,668,691	1,337,014
Accrued trust operating payables and other	(1,108)	(1,827)
Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust	1,667,583	1,335,187
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	65,011	60,833	61,272
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	(9,732)	(21,454)	(41,162)
Impairment charges	(829)	(781)	(24,705)
Interest, dividend, and other ordinary income	24,912	17,017	22,283
Trust expenses and income taxes	(11,371)	(10,685)	(7,303)
Net trust investment income	67,991	44,930	10,385
Investment Income, Nonoperating, Effect on Deferred Preneed Receipts Held in Trust and Care Trust Corpus'	(67,991)	(44,930)	(10,385)
Other income, net	0	0	0
Total other income, net	0	0	0
Cemetery [Member]
Components of Other Income, Nonoperating [Line Items]
Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust, excluding accrued expenses	1,584,701	1,291,016
Accrued trust operating payables and other	(1,698)	(1,882)
Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust	1,583,003	1,289,134
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	101,337	87,665	67,167
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	(14,593)	(29,397)	(46,889)
Impairment charges	(1,575)	(824)	(28,705)
Interest, dividend, and other ordinary income	20,527	17,244	26,902
Trust expenses and income taxes	(14,633)	(13,389)	(10,579)
Net trust investment income	91,063	61,299	7,896
Investment Income, Nonoperating, Effect on Deferred Preneed Receipts Held in Trust and Care Trust Corpus'	(91,063)	(61,299)	(7,896)
Other income, net	0	0	0
Total other income, net	0	0	0
Cemetery Perpetual Care [Member]
Components of Other Income, Nonoperating [Line Items]
Accrued trust operating payables and other	(1,748)	(828)
Care trusts' corpus, excluding accrued expenses	1,347,622	1,099,580
Care trusts’ corpus	1,345,874	1,098,752
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	17,916	11,463	34,275
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	(2,738)	(6,595)	(16,310)
Impairment charges	(192)	(760)	(741)
Interest, dividend, and other ordinary income	27,452	34,032	35,467
Trust expenses and income taxes	(2,628)	(1,355)	(2,774)
Net trust investment income	39,810	36,785	49,917
Investment Income, Nonoperating, Effect on Deferred Preneed Receipts Held in Trust and Care Trust Corpus'	(39,810)	(36,785)	(49,917)
Other income, net	0	0	0
Total other income, net	0	0	0
Corporate Elimination [Member]
Components of Other Income, Nonoperating [Line Items]
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	0	0	0
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	0	0	0
Impairment charges	0	0	0
Interest, dividend, and other ordinary income	0	0	0
Trust expenses and income taxes	0	0	0
Net trust investment income	0	0	0
Investment Income, Nonoperating, Effect on Deferred Preneed Receipts Held in Trust and Care Trust Corpus'	0	0	0
Other income, net	(559)	3,668	(772)
Total other income, net	$ (559)	$ 3,668	$ (772)