Supplementary Information Level 4 (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Cash and cash equivalents:
Cash	$ 132,743	$ 101,952
Commercial paper and temporary investments	44,592	39,632
Cash and cash equivalents	177,335	141,584	88,769	123,653
Receivables, net:
Notes receivable	8,381	1,140
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current	2,346	2,742
Other	24,521	19,772
Receivables, net	109,050	101,424
Other current assets:
Income tax receivable	22,581	2,933
Prepaid insurance	5,270	8,583
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Current	28,926	6,550
Bond conversion asset	0	21,682
Deferred Finance Costs, Current, Net	9,180	9,082
Other Assets, Current	13,644	14,916
Other	79,601	63,746
Cemetery Property, Undeveloped Land	1,186,325	1,192,613
Cemetery Property, Developed	552,891	559,656
Cemetery property, at cost	1,739,216	1,752,269
Land	603,509	610,339
Buildings and Improvements, Gross	1,783,171	1,779,584
Machinery and Equipment, Gross	500,511	500,721
Leasehold Improvements, Gross	50,862	25,642
Capital Leased Assets, Gross	204,991	185,875
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	3,143,044	3,102,161
Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment	(1,163,921)	(1,083,151)
Capital Leases, Lessee Balance Sheet, Assets by Major Class, Property, Plant, and Equipment Other, Accumulated Depreciation	(117,720)	(106,496)
Property and equipment, net	1,861,403	1,912,514
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill)	393,781	398,618
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Noncurrent	16,073	2,409
Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Noncurrent	18,778	22,249
Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Net, Noncurrent	4,858	11,651
Allowance for Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Noncurrent	11,259	10,986
Other Liabilities, Noncurrent	81,200	107,896
Cash Surrender Value of Life Insurance	102,856	90,177
Accounts payable	137,270	143,686
Accrued compensation	86,880	104,464
Interest Payable, Current	30,133	36,583
Accrual for Taxes Other than Income Taxes, Current	14,346	14,395
Self Insurance Reserve, Current	73,991	77,962
Bank Overdrafts	27,798	5,152
Bond conversion liability	0	18,744
Other Accrued Liabilities, Current	82,610	81,853
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	453,028	482,839
Defined Benefit Pension Plan, Liabilities, Noncurrent	35,614	35,629
Deferred Compensation Liability, Classified, Noncurrent	80,580	65,605
Customer Funds	60,019	59,826
Tax liability	239,265	222,365
Indemnification Liability	236	442
Payable to ECF	64,722	56,501
Other Assets, Noncurrent	15,129	50,870
Total merchandise revenues	1,360,757	1,193,580	1,106,824
Total services revenues	1,462,581	1,202,545	1,168,339
Other revenues	170,674	154,341	129,267
Total revenues	2,994,012	2,550,466	2,404,430
Total cost of merchandise	611,927	520,603	492,891
Total cost of services	775,498	649,419	619,052
Overhead and other expenses	930,774	831,397	769,715
Total costs and expenses	2,318,199	2,001,419	1,881,658
Deferred charges and other assets	617,546	633,000
Other liabilities	495,565	491,238
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period	761,000,000	3,004,000,000	0
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares	761,000,000	3,004,000,000	0
Funeral [Member]
Receivables, net:
Accounts Receivable, Net, Current	61,306	66,671
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current	6,200	8,895
Other current assets:
Cash Surrender Value of Life Insurance	260,899	280,969
Total merchandise revenues	616,992	584,438	552,308
Total services revenues	1,167,386	989,613	965,226
Total revenues	1,920,477	1,698,493	1,619,687
Total cost of merchandise	294,237	266,538	258,860
Total cost of services	635,096	548,554	520,243
Cemetery [Member]
Receivables, net:
Accounts Receivable, Net, Current	14,842	13,841
Other current assets:
Cash Surrender Value of Life Insurance	12	4
Total merchandise revenues	743,765	609,142	554,516
Total services revenues	295,195	212,932	203,113
Total revenues	1,073,535	851,973	784,743
Total cost of merchandise	317,690	254,065	234,031
Total cost of services	$ 140,402	$ 100,865	$ 98,809