Preneed Funeral Activities Investment Related Activities (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Investment related activities [Line Items]
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	$ 11,882	$ 46,678
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	(11,892)	(4,110)
Funeral
Investment related activities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	310,616		534,435
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(24,427)		(26,801)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	60,629		73,436
Available-for-sale Securities, Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss, before Tax	33,107		40,439
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	371,245		607,871
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(33,107)		(40,439)
Deposits	29,995	27,923
Withdrawals	45,444	43,737
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	104,231	61,485
Sales of available-for-sale securities	82,320	64,051
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	4,349	16,101
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	(4,735)	(1,474)
Preferred Stock Securities \| Funeral
Investment related activities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	78		26
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	(62)		(113)
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	0		0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	78		26
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	(62)		(113)
Other Investments \| Funeral
Investment related activities [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Fair Value	0		5
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than 12 Months, Aggregate Losses	0		11
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Fair Value	1,303		464
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Fair Value	1,303		469
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Losses	$ (322)		$ (104)

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