Preneed Cemetery Activities Investment Related Activities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Investment related activities [Line Items]
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	$ 20,183	$ 66,604	$ 60,080	$ 159,672
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	(21,086)	(7,468)	(47,407)	(18,396)
Cemetery
Investment related activities [Line Items]
Deposits	40,327	34,018	116,581	95,421
Withdrawals	33,260	33,669	115,930	96,238
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	165,025	247,853	389,219	458,176
Sales of available-for-sale securities	150,804	285,411	389,747	481,258
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	10,318	40,635	33,859	86,822
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	$ (11,948)	$ (4,439)	$ (25,375)	$ (10,564)