Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 234,934	$ 178,806	$ 152,588
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	390	(2,186)	(406)
Losses (gains) on early extinguishment of debt, net	6,918	29,158	(468)
Premiums paid on early extinguishment of debt	(6,549)	(24,804)	0
Depreciation and amortization	141,456	140,002	122,235
Amortization of intangible assets	31,459	36,640	21,859
Amortization of cemetery property	62,407	60,439	48,344
Amortization of loan costs	9,434	8,825	15,943
Provision for doubtful accounts	6,083	7,376	7,874
Provision for deferred income taxes	18,048	129,671	71,708
(Gains) losses on divestitures and impairment charges, net	(6,522)	(116,613)	6,263
Share-based compensation	13,843	13,127	11,925
Excess tax benefits from share-based awards	(18,123)	(30,123)	0
Change in assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions and divestitures:
Decrease (increase) in receivables	464	(18,644)	11,017
Decrease (increase) in other assets	2,457	(11,013)	(14,815)
Increase (decrease) in payables and other liabilities	20,567	(12,038)	(1,995)
Effect of preneed funeral production and maturities:
Decrease in preneed funeral receivables, net and trust investments	24,918	30,357	47,648
Increase (decrease) in deferred preneed funeral revenue	6,199	(23,069)	(9,260)
Decrease in deferred preneed receipts held in trust	(52,946)	(52,869)	(50,990)
Effect of cemetery production and maturities:
Increase in preneed cemetery receivables, net and trust investments	(73,038)	(43,964)	(73,626)
Increase in deferred preneed cemetery revenue	60,960	54,049	30,785
Decrease in deferred preneed receipts held in trust	(11,173)	(34,664)	(12,761)
Other	0	(108)	(27)
Net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations	472,186	318,355	383,841
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities from discontinued operations	0	(1,000)	868
Net cash provided by operating activities	472,186	317,355	384,709
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(150,986)	(144,499)	(112,939)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	41,258	15,336	1,057,122
Proceeds from divestitures and sales of property and equipment	16,772	424,383	13,219
Net withdrawals (deposits) of restricted funds and other	(8,066)	12,225	(341)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities from continuing operations	(167,406)	252,323	(1,156,501)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities from discontinued operations	987	4,963	(292)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(166,419)	257,286	(1,156,793)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	446,250	755,000	1,055,000
Debt issuance costs	(6,025)	(10,500)	(36,064)
Payments of debt	(160,220)	(230,561)	(90,466)
Early extinguishment of debt	(197,377)	(762,764)	(80)
Principal payments on capital leases	(28,601)	(29,380)	(26,280)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	31,809	32,376	6,309
Excess tax benefits from share-based awards	18,123	30,123	0
Purchase of Company common stock	(345,261)	(242,874)	(1,708)
Payments of dividends	87,570	71,517	57,229
Purchase of noncontrolling interest	(2,075)	(15,000)	(23,333)
Bank overdrafts and other	(7,531)	7,130	336
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities from continued operations	(338,478)	(537,967)	826,485
Net cash used in financing activities from discontinued operations	0	0	(1,370)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(338,478)	(537,967)	825,115
Change in cash from discontinued operations	0	1,361	785
Effect of foreign currency	(10,025)	(2,284)	(1,001)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(42,736)	35,751	52,815
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	177,335	141,584	88,769
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 134,599	$ 177,335	$ 141,584