Supplementary Information Level 4 (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Cash and cash equivalents:
Cash	$ 105,241	$ 52,431
Commercial paper and temporary investments	39,632	40,277
Cash and cash equivalents	144,873	92,708	128,569	170,846
Receivables, net:
Notes receivable	1,140	976
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current	2,140	1,690
Other	19,795	16,225
Receivables, net	105,899	101,817
Other current assets:
Income tax receivable	2,841	4,805
Prepaid insurance	8,583	4,258
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Current	6,550	1,484
Bond conversion asset	21,682	0
Deferred Finance Costs, Current, Net	9,082	4,393
Other Assets, Current	16,029	5,606
Other	64,767	20,546
Cemetery Property, Undeveloped Land	1,209,143	1,077,930
Cemetery Property, Developed	539,924	412,018
Cemetery property, at cost	1,749,067	1,489,948
Land	610,348	524,381
Buildings and Improvements, Gross	1,786,952	1,596,888
Machinery and Equipment, Gross	502,313	482,476
Leasehold Improvements, Gross	28,558	27,532
Capital Leased Assets, Gross	185,875	181,386
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	3,114,046	2,812,663
Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment	(1,084,589)	(1,070,385)
Capital Leases, Lessee Balance Sheet, Assets by Major Class, Property, Plant, and Equipment Other, Accumulated Depreciation	(106,496)	(101,177)
Property and equipment, net	1,922,961	1,641,101
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill)	422,486	257,703
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Noncurrent	2,409	4,457
Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Noncurrent	22,557	490
Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Net, Noncurrent	11,651	10,334
Allowance for Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Noncurrent	10,986	1,316
Other Liabilities, Noncurrent	111,954	67,408
Cash Surrender Value of Life Insurance	90,177	84,875
Accounts payable	143,385	104,025
Accrued compensation	104,466	97,750
Accrued dividend	0	0	11,027
Interest Payable, Current	36,583	20,709
Accrual for Taxes Other than Income Taxes, Current	13,756	14,246
Self Insurance Reserve, Current	77,962	57,543
Bank Overdrafts	5,152	22,240
Bond conversion liability	18,744	0
Other Accrued Liabilities, Current	86,600	57,270
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	486,648	373,783
Defined Benefit Pension Plan, Liabilities, Noncurrent	35,629	27,374
Deferred Compensation Liability, Classified, Noncurrent	65,605	59,897
Customer Funds	59,826	70,656
Tax liability	181,455	185,568
Indemnification Liability	442	1,681
Payable to ECF	56,501	41,806
Other Assets, Noncurrent	30,935	12,968
Total merchandise revenues	1,195,774	1,109,022	1,041,378
Total services revenues	1,206,258	1,172,192	1,153,971
Other revenues	154,350	129,267	120,691
Total revenues	2,556,382	2,410,481	2,316,040
Total cost of merchandise	522,401	494,733	482,096
Total cost of services	652,879	622,725	592,742
Overhead and other expenses	831,533	769,810	764,700
Total costs and expenses	2,006,813	1,887,268	1,839,538
Deferred charges and other assets	661,234	425,267
Other liabilities	430,393	399,950
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period	3,004,000	0	0
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares	(3,004,000)	0	0
Funeral [Member]
Receivables, net:
Accounts Receivable, Net, Current	68,565	70,208
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current	8,895	7,194
Other current assets:
Cash Surrender Value of Life Insurance	280,969	273,098
Total merchandise revenues	586,631	554,518	524,695
Total services revenues	993,296	969,088	958,602
Total revenues	1,704,375	1,625,738	1,573,498
Total cost of merchandise	268,310	260,699	259,462
Total cost of services	551,812	523,811	495,268
Cemetery [Member]
Receivables, net:
Accounts Receivable, Net, Current	16,399	14,408
Other current assets:
Cash Surrender Value of Life Insurance	4	9
Total merchandise revenues	609,143	554,504	516,683
Total services revenues	212,962	203,104	195,369
Total revenues	852,007	784,743	742,542
Total cost of merchandise	254,091	234,034	222,634
Total cost of services	$ 101,067	$ 98,914	$ 97,474