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, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Components of Other Income, Nonoperating [Line Items]
Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust, excluding accrued expenses	$ 3,155,528	$ 3,251,268
Accrued trust operating payables and other	(6,644)	(2,805)
Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust	3,148,884	3,248,463
Care trusts’ corpus	1,327,658	1,340,930
Total other income, net	1,780	(558)	3,687
Operating Segments [Member]
Components of Other Income, Nonoperating [Line Items]
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	574,333	184,264	159,961
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	(303,314)	(27,063)	(57,446)
Impairment charges	(109,958)	(2,596)	(2,365)
Interest, dividend, and other ordinary income	75,729	72,891	68,293
Trust expenses and income taxes	(58,004)	(28,632)	(25,429)
Net trust investment income	178,786	198,864	143,014
Investment Income, Nonoperating, Effect on Deferred Preneed Receipts Held in Trust and Care Trust Corpus'	(178,786)	(198,864)	(143,014)
Other income, net	1,780	(558)	3,687
Total other income, net	1,780	(558)	3,687
Funeral [Member]
Components of Other Income, Nonoperating [Line Items]
Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust, excluding accrued expenses	1,628,875	1,665,977
Accrued trust operating payables and other	(2,487)	(1,108)
Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust	1,626,388	1,664,869
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	168,567	65,011	60,833
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	(113,748)	(9,732)	(21,454)
Impairment charges	(41,846)	(829)	(781)
Interest, dividend, and other ordinary income	22,668	24,912	17,017
Trust expenses and income taxes	(19,590)	(11,371)	(10,685)
Net trust investment income	16,051	67,991	44,930
Investment Income, Nonoperating, Effect on Deferred Preneed Receipts Held in Trust and Care Trust Corpus'	(16,051)	(67,991)	(44,930)
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	1,526,653	1,585,291
Accrued trust operating payables and other	(4,157)	(1,697)
Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust	1,522,496	1,583,594
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	271,507	101,337	87,665
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	(138,473)	(14,593)	(29,397)
Impairment charges	(60,040)	(1,575)	(824)
Interest, dividend, and other ordinary income	17,597	20,527	17,244
Trust expenses and income taxes	(20,833)	(14,633)	(13,389)
Net trust investment income	69,758	91,063	61,299
Investment Income, Nonoperating, Effect on Deferred Preneed Receipts Held in Trust and Care Trust Corpus'	(69,758)	(91,063)	(61,299)
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	(13,718)	(1,661)
Care trusts' corpus, excluding accrued expenses	1,341,376	1,342,591
Care trusts’ corpus	1,327,658	1,340,930
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	134,259	17,916	11,463
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	(51,093)	(2,738)	(6,595)
Impairment charges	(8,072)	(192)	(760)
Interest, dividend, and other ordinary income	35,464	27,452	34,032
Trust expenses and income taxes	(17,581)	(2,628)	(1,355)
Net trust investment income	92,977	39,810	36,785
Investment Income, Nonoperating, Effect on Deferred Preneed Receipts Held in Trust and Care Trust Corpus'	(92,977)	(39,810)	(36,785)
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	1,780	(558)	3,687
Total other income, net	$ 1,780	$ (558)	$ 3,687