Supplementary Information Level 4 (Details) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Cash and cash equivalents:
Cash	$ 106,831	$ 132,743
Commercial paper and temporary investments	27,768	44,592
Cash and cash equivalents	134,599	177,335	$ 141,584	$ 88,769
Receivables, net:
Notes receivable	2,056	8,381
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current	2,153	2,346
Other	22,637	24,521
Receivables, net	90,462	109,050
Other current assets:
Income tax receivable	15,662	22,581
Prepaid insurance	5,398	5,270
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Current	12,587	28,926
Deferred Finance Costs, Current, Net	9,522	9,180
Other Assets, Current	12,344	14,817
Other	55,513	80,774
Cemetery Property, Undeveloped Land	1,186,861	1,186,325
Cemetery Property, Developed	566,154	552,891
Cemetery property, at cost	1,753,015	1,739,216
Land	591,407	603,509
Buildings and Improvements, Gross	1,834,403	1,783,171
Machinery and Equipment, Gross	530,195	500,511
Leasehold Improvements, Gross	52,121	50,862
Capital Leased Assets, Gross	220,784	204,991
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	3,228,910	3,143,044
Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment	(1,253,872)	(1,163,921)
Capital Leases, Lessee Balance Sheet, Assets by Major Class, Property, Plant, and Equipment Other, Accumulated Depreciation	(128,316)	(117,720)
Property and equipment, net	1,846,722	1,861,403
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill)	370,005	393,781
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Noncurrent	3,907	16,073
Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Noncurrent	23,817	18,778
Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Net, Noncurrent	10,229	4,858
Allowance for Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Noncurrent	11,354	11,259
Other Liabilities, Noncurrent	99,827	87,902
Cash Surrender Value of Life Insurance	108,726	102,856
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities:
Accounts payable	140,045	137,270
Accrued compensation	86,908	86,880
Interest Payable, Current	28,673	30,133
Accrual for Taxes Other than Income Taxes, Current	11,594	14,346
Self Insurance Reserve, Current	76,611	73,991
Bank Overdrafts	21,808	27,798
Other Accrued Liabilities, Current	57,203	82,624
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	422,842	453,042
Defined Benefit Pension Plan, Liabilities, Noncurrent	28,582	32,915
Deferred Compensation Liability, Classified, Noncurrent	92,199	83,278
Customer Funds	55,153	60,019
Tax liability	234,176	239,265
Indemnification Liability	0	236
Payable to ECF	71,133	64,722
Other Assets, Noncurrent	15,678	22,118
Total merchandise revenues	1,452,656	1,433,972	1,237,640
Total services revenues	1,352,254	1,390,219	1,158,488
Other revenues	181,470	169,820	154,338
Total revenues	2,986,380	2,994,011	2,550,466
Total cost of merchandise	773,309	777,322	646,881
Total cost of services	695,681	700,796	600,096
Overhead and other expenses	845,445	840,208	754,442
Total costs and expenses	2,314,435	2,318,326	$ 2,001,419
Deferred charges and other assets	616,511	624,248
Other liabilities	$ 496,921	$ 502,553
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period	122	761	3,004
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares	(122)	(761)	(3,004)
Funeral [Member]
Receivables, net:
Accounts Receivable, Net, Current	$ 52,184	$ 61,306
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current	3,343	6,200
Other current assets:
Cash Surrender Value of Life Insurance	271,116	260,899
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities:
Total merchandise revenues	603,405	616,992	$ 584,429
Total services revenues	1,134,807	1,167,385	989,624
Total revenues	1,888,812	1,920,475	1,698,493
Total cost of merchandise	285,432	292,031	266,558
Total cost of services	629,842	630,357	548,534
Cemetery [Member]
Receivables, net:
Accounts Receivable, Net, Current	13,585	14,842
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities:
Total merchandise revenues	849,251	816,980	653,211
Total services revenues	217,447	222,834	168,864
Total revenues	1,097,568	1,073,536	851,973
Total cost of merchandise	487,877	485,291	380,323
Total cost of services	$ 65,839	$ 70,439	$ 51,562