Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 177,305	$ 234,934	$ 178,806
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Loss (income) from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	390	(2,186)
Losses on early extinguishment of debt, net	22,503	6,918	29,158
Premiums paid on early extinguishment of debt	(20,524)	(6,549)	(24,804)
Depreciation and amortization	147,233	141,456	140,002
Amortization of intangible assets	30,956	31,459	36,640
Amortization of cemetery property	66,745	62,407	60,439
Amortization of loan costs	5,826	9,434	8,825
Provision for doubtful accounts	10,776	6,083	7,376
Provision for deferred income taxes	7,490	18,048	129,671
Losses (gains) on divestitures and impairment charges, net	26,819	(6,522)	(116,613)
Share-based compensation	14,056	13,843	13,127
Excess tax benefits from share-based awards	(12,685)	(18,123)	(30,123)
Change in assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions and divestitures:
(Increase) decrease in receivables	14,198	464	(18,644)
Decrease (increase) in other assets	(17,855)	2,457	(11,013)
Increase (decrease) in payables and other liabilities	47,888	20,567	(12,038)
Effect of preneed funeral production and maturities:
Decrease in preneed funeral receivables, net and trust investments	(17,506)	24,918	30,357
Increase (decrease) in deferred preneed funeral revenue	(9,329)	6,199	(23,069)
Decrease in deferred preneed receipts held in trust	41,607	(52,946)	(52,869)
Effect of cemetery production and maturities:
Increase in preneed cemetery receivables, net and trust investments	90,900	(73,038)	(43,964)
Increase in deferred preneed cemetery revenue	(25,446)	60,960	54,049
Increase (decrease) in deferred preneed receipts held in trust	(15,776)	(11,173)	(34,664)
Other	0	0	(108)
Net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations	463,595	472,186	318,355
Net cash used in operating activities from discontinued operations	0	0	(1,000)
Net cash provided by operating activities	463,595	472,186	317,355
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(193,446)	(150,986)	(144,499)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(69,146)	(41,258)	(15,336)
Proceeds from divestitures and sales of property and equipment	41,310	16,772	424,383
Net withdrawals (deposits) of restricted funds and other	5,150	8,066	(12,225)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities from continuing operations	(216,132)	(167,406)	252,323
Net cash provided by investing activities from discontinued operations	0	987	4,963
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(216,132)	(166,419)	257,286
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	1,060,000	446,250	755,000
Debt issuance costs	(5,232)	(6,025)	(10,500)
Payments of debt	(36,414)	(160,220)	(230,561)
Early extinguishment of debt	(875,110)	(197,377)	(762,764)
Principal payments on capital leases	(33,119)	(28,601)	(29,380)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	17,662	31,809	32,376
Excess tax benefits from share-based awards	12,685	18,123	30,123
Purchase of Company common stock	(227,928)	(345,261)	(242,874)
Payments of dividends	(98,418)	(87,570)	(71,517)
Purchase of noncontrolling interest	(1,961)	(2,075)	(15,000)
Bank overdrafts and other	(1,095)	(7,531)	7,130
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(188,930)	(338,478)	(537,967)
Change in cash from discontinued operations	0	0	1,361
Effect of foreign currency	1,854	(10,025)	(2,284)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	60,387	(42,736)	35,751
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	134,599	177,335	141,584
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 194,986	$ 134,599	$ 177,335