Supplementary Information Level 4 (Details) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Cash and cash equivalents:
Cash	$ 260,281	$ 146,684
Commercial paper and temporary investments	69,758	48,302
Cash and cash equivalents	330,039	194,986	$ 134,599	$ 177,335
Receivables, net:
Notes receivable	1,605	1,259
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current	245	1,514
Other	27,607	32,514
Receivables, net	90,304	98,455
Other current assets:
Income tax receivable	8,576	3,609
Prepaid insurance	4,419	4,437
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Current	8,625	11,978
Other Assets, Current	13,955	14,500
Other	35,575	34,524
Cemetery Property, Undeveloped Land	1,181,920	1,184,710
Cemetery Property, Developed	610,069	592,225
Cemetery property, at cost	1,791,989	1,776,935
Land	605,735	595,096
Buildings and Improvements, Gross	1,996,123	1,879,553
Machinery and Equipment, Gross	557,278	549,879
Leasehold Improvements, Gross	34,607	33,900
Capital Leased Assets, Gross	254,260	234,411
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	3,448,003	3,292,839
Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment	(1,430,695)	(1,328,262)
Capital Leases, Lessee Balance Sheet, Assets by Major Class, Property, Plant, and Equipment Other, Accumulated Depreciation	(144,264)	(136,990)
Property and equipment, net	1,873,044	1,827,587
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill)	374,099	368,065
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Noncurrent	1,937	4,542
Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Noncurrent	873	861
Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Net, Noncurrent	9,624	9,598
Allowance for Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Noncurrent	10,946	11,334
Other Liabilities, Noncurrent	75,157	64,635
Cash Surrender Value of Life Insurance	139,494	119,819
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities:
Accounts payable	173,685	155,802
Accrued compensation	95,233	88,392
Interest Payable, Current	30,415	27,991
Accrual for Taxes Other than Income Taxes, Current	10,541	12,883
Self Insurance Reserve, Current	78,227	77,993
Bank Overdrafts	27,243	20,927
Other Accrued Liabilities, Current	73,828	55,948
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	489,172	439,936
Liability, Defined Benefit Pension Plan, Noncurrent	25,416	26,630
Deferred Compensation Liability, Classified, Noncurrent	120,782	105,013
Customer Funds	51,767	52,068
Tax liability	111,000	235,625
Payable to ECF	83,015	77,148
Other Assets, Noncurrent	19,002	13,838
Total merchandise revenues	1,588,632	1,524,218	1,457,516
Total services revenues	1,356,665	1,345,528	1,363,445
Other revenues	149,734	161,391	165,080
Total revenues	3,095,031	3,031,137	2,986,041
Total cost of merchandise	794,725	776,411	748,276
Total cost of services	729,204	733,690	729,348
Overhead and other expenses	848,913	844,602	833,828
Total costs and expenses	2,372,842	2,354,703	2,311,452
Deferred charges and other assets	601,184	567,520
Other liabilities	410,982	510,322
Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract]
Capital Expenditures Incurred but Not yet Paid	$ 223	$ 1,435	$ 5,571
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period	0	0	122
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares	0	0	(122)
Capital Lease Obligations Incurred	$ 54,087	$ 41,609	$ 55,941
Funeral [Member]
Receivables, net:
Accounts Receivable, Net, Current	44,536	46,917
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current	1,845	1,881
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities:
Total merchandise revenues	619,804	611,440	608,266
Total services revenues	1,129,510	1,126,703	1,146,205
Total revenues	1,868,152	1,869,111	1,889,055
Total cost of merchandise	282,048	287,414	290,663
Total cost of services	621,102	627,156	624,310
Cemetery [Member]
Receivables, net:
Accounts Receivable, Net, Current	16,556	17,765
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities:
Total merchandise revenues	968,828	912,778	849,250
Total services revenues	227,155	218,825	217,240
Total revenues	1,226,879	1,162,026	1,096,986
Total cost of merchandise	512,677	488,997	457,613
Total cost of services	$ 108,102	$ 106,534	$ 105,038