Supplementary Information Level 4 (Details) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Cash and cash equivalents:
Cash	$ 146,684	$ 106,831
Commercial paper and temporary investments	48,302	27,768
Cash and cash equivalents	194,986	134,599	$ 177,335	$ 141,584
Receivables, net:
Notes receivable	1,259	2,056
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current	1,514	2,153
Other	32,514	22,637
Receivables, net	98,455	90,462
Other current assets:
Income tax receivable	3,609	15,662
Prepaid insurance	4,437	5,398
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Current	11,978	12,587
Other Assets, Current	14,500	13,508
Other	34,524	47,155
Cemetery Property, Undeveloped Land	1,184,710	1,186,861
Cemetery Property, Developed	592,225	566,154
Cemetery property, at cost	1,776,935	1,753,015
Land	595,096	591,407
Buildings and Improvements, Gross	1,879,553	1,834,403
Machinery and Equipment, Gross	549,879	530,195
Leasehold Improvements, Gross	33,900	52,121
Capital Leased Assets, Gross	234,411	220,784
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	3,292,839	3,228,910
Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment	(1,328,262)	(1,253,867)
Capital Leases, Lessee Balance Sheet, Assets by Major Class, Property, Plant, and Equipment Other, Accumulated Depreciation	(136,990)	(128,321)
Property and equipment, net	1,827,587	1,846,722
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill)	368,065	370,005
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Noncurrent	4,542	3,907
Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Noncurrent	861	23,817
Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Net, Noncurrent	9,598	10,229
Allowance for Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Noncurrent	11,334	11,334
Other Liabilities, Noncurrent	64,635	65,694
Cash Surrender Value of Life Insurance	119,819	108,726
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities:
Accounts payable	155,802	140,019
Accrued compensation	88,392	86,908
Interest Payable, Current	27,991	28,673
Accrual for Taxes Other than Income Taxes, Current	12,883	11,594
Self Insurance Reserve, Current	77,993	76,611
Bank Overdrafts	20,927	21,808
Other Accrued Liabilities, Current	55,948	57,203
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	439,936	422,816
Defined Benefit Pension Plan, Liabilities, Noncurrent	26,630	28,582
Deferred Compensation Liability, Classified, Noncurrent	105,013	92,199
Customer Funds	52,068	55,153
Tax liability	235,625	234,176
Payable to ECF	77,148	71,133
Other Assets, Noncurrent	13,838	15,704
Total merchandise revenues	1,524,229	1,457,590	1,433,972
Total services revenues	1,345,518	1,363,586	1,390,219
Other revenues	161,390	164,865	169,820
Total revenues	3,031,137	2,986,041	2,994,011
Total cost of merchandise	776,598	748,597	777,322
Total cost of services	731,669	727,491	700,796
Overhead and other expenses	846,436	835,364	840,208
Total costs and expenses	2,354,703	2,311,452	2,318,326
Deferred charges and other assets	567,520	582,378
Other liabilities	510,322	496,947
Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract]
Capital Expenditures Incurred but Not yet Paid	$ (1,435)	$ (5,571)	$ (1,022)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period	0	122	761
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares	0	(122)	(761)
Capital Lease Obligations Incurred	$ 41,609	$ 55,941	$ 35,422
Funeral [Member]
Receivables, net:
Accounts Receivable, Net, Current	46,917	52,184
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current	1,881	3,343
Other current assets:
Cash Surrender Value of Life Insurance	271,248	271,116
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities:
Total merchandise revenues	611,441	608,335	616,992
Total services revenues	1,126,474	1,146,124	1,167,385
Total revenues	1,868,883	1,888,828	1,920,475
Total cost of merchandise	287,272	290,574	292,031
Total cost of services	627,099	624,294	630,357
Cemetery [Member]
Receivables, net:
Accounts Receivable, Net, Current	17,765	13,585
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities:
Total merchandise revenues	912,788	849,255	816,980
Total services revenues	219,044	217,462	222,834
Total revenues	1,162,254	1,097,213	1,073,536
Total cost of merchandise	489,326	458,023	485,291
Total cost of services	$ 104,570	$ 103,197	$ 70,439