Deferred Preneed Funeral and Cemetery Receipts Held in Trust and Care Trusts' Corpus Level 4 (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Components of Other Income, Nonoperating [Line Items]
Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust, excluding accrued expenses	$ 3,104,746	$ 2,977,612
Accrued trust operating payables and other	(950)	(4,226)
Deferred preneed receipts held in trust	3,103,796	2,973,386
Care trusts’ corpus	1,408,243	1,319,564
Total other income, net	(631)	(132)	$ 1,780
Operating Segments [Member]
Components of Other Income, Nonoperating [Line Items]
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	100,284	100,477	574,333
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	(113,806)	(79,203)	(303,314)
Impairment charges	(11,857)	(9,676)	(109,958)
Interest, dividend, and other ordinary income	94,321	109,294	92,391
Trust expenses and income taxes	(65,128)	(85,967)	(74,666)
Net trust investment income	3,814	34,925	178,786
Investment Income, Nonoperating, Effect on Deferred Preneed Receipts Held in Trust and Care Trust Corpus'	(3,814)	(34,925)	(178,786)
Other income, net	(631)	(132)	1,780
Total other income, net	(631)	(132)	1,780
Funeral [Member]
Components of Other Income, Nonoperating [Line Items]
Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust, excluding accrued expenses	1,546,517	1,515,113
Accrued trust operating payables and other	(589)	(1,381)
Deferred preneed receipts held in trust	1,545,928	1,513,732
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	38,704	42,034	168,567
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	(46,432)	(31,403)	(113,748)
Impairment charges	(4,625)	(3,519)	(41,846)
Interest, dividend, and other ordinary income	20,299	25,952	22,668
Trust expenses and income taxes	(20,190)	(21,852)	(19,590)
Net trust investment income	(12,244)	11,212	16,051
Investment Income, Nonoperating, Effect on Deferred Preneed Receipts Held in Trust and Care Trust Corpus'	12,244	(11,212)	(16,051)
Other income, net	0	0	0
Total other income, net	0	0	0
Cemetery [Member]
Components of Other Income, Nonoperating [Line Items]
Deferred preneed funeral and cemetery receipts held in trust, excluding accrued expenses	1,558,229	1,462,499
Accrued trust operating payables and other	(361)	(2,845)
Deferred preneed receipts held in trust	1,557,868	1,459,654
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	53,253	51,510	271,507
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	(60,795)	(40,092)	(138,473)
Impairment charges	(5,872)	(4,345)	(60,040)
Interest, dividend, and other ordinary income	17,428	27,089	17,597
Trust expenses and income taxes	(22,137)	(31,472)	(20,833)
Net trust investment income	(18,123)	2,690	69,758
Investment Income, Nonoperating, Effect on Deferred Preneed Receipts Held in Trust and Care Trust Corpus'	18,123	(2,690)	(69,758)
Other income, net	0	0	0
Total other income, net	0	0	0
Cemetery Perpetual Care [Member]
Components of Other Income, Nonoperating [Line Items]
Accrued trust operating payables and other	778	137
Care trusts' corpus, excluding accrued expenses	1,407,465	1,319,427
Care trusts’ corpus	1,408,243	1,319,564
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	8,327	6,933	134,259
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	(6,579)	(7,708)	(51,093)
Impairment charges	(1,360)	(1,812)	(8,072)
Interest, dividend, and other ordinary income	56,594	56,253	52,126
Trust expenses and income taxes	(22,801)	(32,643)	(34,243)
Net trust investment income	34,181	21,023	92,977
Investment Income, Nonoperating, Effect on Deferred Preneed Receipts Held in Trust and Care Trust Corpus'	(34,181)	(21,023)	(92,977)
Other income, net	0	0	0
Total other income, net	0	0	0
Corporate Elimination [Member]
Components of Other Income, Nonoperating [Line Items]
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	0	0	0
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	0	0	0
Impairment charges	0	0	0
Interest, dividend, and other ordinary income	0	0	0
Trust expenses and income taxes	0	0	0
Net trust investment income	0	0	0
Investment Income, Nonoperating, Effect on Deferred Preneed Receipts Held in Trust and Care Trust Corpus'	0	0	0
Other income, net	(631)	(132)	1,780
Total other income, net	$ (631)	$ (132)	$ 1,780