Schedule II Valuation and Qualifying Account Schedule II Valuation and Qualifying Account Level 4 (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts, Current [Member]
Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward]
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Beginning Balance		$ 8,546	$ 11,637	$ 8,884
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Charged (credited) to Cost and Expense		6,083	7,376	7,874
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Charged (Credited) to Other Accounts	[1]	63,964	55,573	54,774
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Write-Offs	[2]	(73,097)	(66,040)	(59,895)
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Ending Balance CLONE		5,496	8,546	11,637
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts, Noncurrent [Member]
Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward]
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Beginning Balance		11,259	10,986	1,316
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Charged (credited) to Cost and Expense		0	0	0
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Charged (Credited) to Other Accounts	[1]	75	273	9,670
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Write-Offs	[2]	0	0	0
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Ending Balance CLONE		11,334	11,259	10,986
Asset Allowance for Cancellation, Preneed Funeral and Preneed Cemetery [Member]
Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward]
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Beginning Balance		107,040	106,793	83,642
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Charged (credited) to Cost and Expense		5,016	2,950	4,498
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Charged (Credited) to Other Accounts	[1]	(6,283)	(2,703)	18,653
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Write-Offs	[2]	0	0	0
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Ending Balance CLONE		105,773	107,040	106,793
Revenue Allowance for Cancellation, Deferred Preneed Funeral and Cemetery [Member]
Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward]
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Beginning Balance		(125,030)	(149,288)	(131,320)
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Charged (credited) to Cost and Expense		0	0	0
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Charged (Credited) to Other Accounts	[1]	3,482	24,258	(17,968)
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Write-Offs	[2]	0	0	0
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Ending Balance CLONE		(121,548)	(125,030)	(149,288)
Valuation Allowance of Deferred Tax Assets [Member]
Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward]
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Beginning Balance		134,201	114,719	71,013
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Charged (credited) to Cost and Expense		(5,988)	21,285	6,213
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Charged (Credited) to Other Accounts	[1]	(1,559)	(1,803)	37,493
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Write-Offs	[2]	0	0	0
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Ending Balance CLONE		$ 126,654	$ 134,201	$ 114,719

[1] Primarily relates to acquisitions and dispositions of operations.

[2] Uncollected receivables written off, net of recoveries.