Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net income	$ 516,137	$ 369,771	$ 447,558
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Losses on early extinguishment of debt, net	18,428	16,637	10,131
Depreciation and amortization	155,299	151,000	153,650
Amortization of intangibles	22,444	25,649	26,195
Amortization of cemetery property	80,403	70,330	68,640
Amortization of loan costs	5,483	5,681	6,059
Provision for expected credit losses	13,558	9,146	8,372
Provision for (benefits from) deferred income taxes	7,884	23,030	(41,479)
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets	(7,009)	(32,919)	(15,933)
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Investments	0	0	(2,636)
Share-based compensation	14,103	15,029	15,626
Change in assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions and divestitures:
Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets	(35,739)	(23,018)	(4,814)
Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Liabilities	122,478	1,788	(16,699)
Increase (Decrease) in Accounts and Other Receivables	(14,518)	(12,711)	8,052
Effect of preneed funeral production and maturities:
Increase in preneed receivables, net and trust investments	(158,797)	(16,144)	(55,607)
Increase in deferred revenue, net	(61,807)	(67,792)	(28,005)
Increase (decrease) in deferred receipts held in trust	(2,390)	42,306	19,290
Net cash provided by operating activities	804,351	628,755	615,830
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(222,211)	(239,957)	(235,545)
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired	(64,164)	(55,644)	(176,252)
Payments for (Proceeds from) Deposits on Real Estate Acquisitions	(52,079)	(51,373)	(18,572)
Proceeds from divestitures and sales of property and equipment	21,916	77,074	37,309
Proceeds from Sale, Maturity and Collection of Investments	0	0	2,900
Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities	0	0	(14,525)
Payment to Acquire Life Insurance Policy, Investing Activities	(5,352)	(9,026)	(14,760)
Proceeds from Life Insurance Policy	3,519	415	4,824
Net cash used in investing activities	(318,371)	(278,511)	(414,621)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	1,585,000	1,149,263	396,349
Debt issuance costs	(14,503)	(15,539)	0
Scheduled payments of debt	(34,489)	(25,471)	(34,134)
Repayments of Other Long-term Debt	(1,371,856)	(1,164,978)	(259,590)
Principal payments on finance leases	(43,598)	(42,627)	(39,686)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	26,671	40,922	24,517
Purchase of Company common stock	(516,870)	(129,589)	(277,611)
Payments of dividends	(137,392)	(131,402)	(123,849)
PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesIncludiing1031ExchangeFunds	116,200	107,000
Bank overdrafts and other	14,259	328	(15,177)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(492,778)	(319,093)	(329,181)
Effect of foreign currency	2,788	3,885	(5,045)
Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash	(4,010)	35,036	(133,017)
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents	238,610	242,620	207,584
Proceeds from Sale, Maturity and Collection of Investments	$ 0	$ 0	$ 2,900