Preneed Cemetery Activities Preneed Cemetary Activities Receivables Net and Trust Investments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Preneed cemetery receivables, net and trust investments		$ 2,318,167
Preneed cemetery receivables, net and trust investments		2,487,720	$ 2,318,167
Cemetery [Member]
Preneed cemetery receivables, net and trust investments		2,318,167	2,306,669	$ 2,292,348
Net preneed contract sales		862,298	799,497	688,336
Dispositions (acquisitions) of businesses, net		(2,083)	4,404	(10,898)
Net undistributed investments (losses) earnings	[1]	79,557	(42,189)	(18,038)
Cash receipts from customers, net of refunds		(784,267)	(716,686)	(615,489)
Deposits to trust		158,114	153,252	129,581
Maturities, deliveries, and associated earnings		(144,308)	(163,732)	(150,064)
Change in cancellation allowance		(1,966)	(2,046)	843
Effect of foreign currency and other		2,208	(21,002)	(9,950)
Preneed cemetery receivables, net and trust investments		$ 2,487,720	$ 2,318,167	$ 2,306,669

[1] Includes both realized and unrealized investment earnings