Preneed Cemetery Activities Investment Related Activities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Investment related activities [Line Items]
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	$ 25,062	$ 20,183	$ 59,845	$ 60,080
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	(14,037)	(21,086)	(90,679)	(47,407)
Cemetery
Investment related activities [Line Items]
Deposits	41,133	40,327	120,398	116,581
Withdrawals	39,108	33,260	105,471	115,930
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	119,699	165,025	490,752	389,219
Sales of available-for-sale securities	123,063	150,804	471,162	389,747
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	13,638	10,318	31,557	33,859
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	$ (7,458)	$ (11,948)	$ (48,907)	$ (25,375)