Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 546,847	$ 177,305	$ 234,934
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	390
Losses on early extinguishment of debt, net	274	22,503	6,918
Premiums paid on early extinguishment of debt	0	(20,524)	(6,549)
Depreciation and amortization	153,141	147,233	141,456
Amortization of intangibles	27,650	30,956	31,459
Amortization of cemetery property	68,102	66,745	62,407
Amortization of loan costs	5,859	5,826	9,434
Provision for doubtful accounts	9,980	10,776	6,083
(Benefit) provision for deferred income taxes	(317,838)	7,490	18,048
(Gains) losses on divestitures and impairment charges, net	(7,015)	26,819	(6,522)
Share-based compensation	14,788	14,056	13,843
Excess tax benefits from share-based awards	0	(12,685)	(18,123)
Change in assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions and divestitures:
(Increase) decrease in receivables	9,740	(14,198)	464
(Increase) decrease in other assets	15,385	17,855	2,457
Increase in payables and other liabilities	81,763	47,888	20,567
Effect of preneed funeral production and maturities:
Increase in preneed receivables, net and trust investments	63,994	(73,394)	(48,120)
Increase in deferred revenue	(31,182)	34,775	67,159
Decrease in deferred receipts held in trust	23,274	(25,831)	(64,119)
Net cash provided by operating activities	502,340	463,595	472,186
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(214,501)	(193,446)	(150,986)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(49,988)	(69,146)	(41,258)
Proceeds from divestitures and sales of property and equipment	28,429	41,310	16,772
Net withdrawals of restricted funds and other	175	5,150	8,066
Net cash used in investing activities from continuing operations	(235,885)	(216,132)	(167,406)
Net cash provided by investing activities from discontinued operations	0	0	987
Net cash used in investing activities	(235,885)	(216,132)	(166,419)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	1,787,500	1,060,000	446,250
Debt issuance costs	(12,939)	(5,232)	(6,025)
Scheduled payments of debt	(468,973)	(36,414)	(160,220)
Early payments of debt	(1,117,512)	(875,110)	(197,377)
Principal payments on capital leases	(51,106)	(33,119)	(28,601)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	33,611	17,662	31,809
Excess tax benefits from share-based awards	0	12,685	18,123
Purchase of Company common stock	(199,637)	(227,928)	(345,261)
Payments of dividends	(108,750)	(98,418)	(87,570)
Purchase of noncontrolling interest	(4,580)	(1,961)	(2,075)
Bank overdrafts and other	5,959	(1,095)	(7,531)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(136,427)	(188,930)	(338,478)
Effect of foreign currency	5,025	1,854	(10,025)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	135,053	60,387	(42,736)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	194,986	134,599	177,335
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 330,039	$ 194,986	$ 134,599