Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net income	$ 803,252	$ 516,137	$ 369,771
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Losses on early extinguishment of debt, net	5,226	18,428	16,637
Depreciation and amortization	159,306	155,299	151,000
Amortization of intangibles	20,002	22,444	25,649
Amortization of cemetery property	98,162	80,403	70,330
Amortization of loan costs	6,367	5,483	5,681
Provision for expected credit losses	11,362	13,558	9,146
(Benefit from) provision for deferred income taxes	(5,837)	7,884	23,030
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets	(25,169)	(7,009)	(32,919)
Share-based compensation	14,168	14,103	15,029
Change in assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions and divestitures:
Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets	(54,883)	(35,739)	(23,018)
Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Liabilities	53,747	122,478	1,788
Increase (Decrease) in Accounts and Other Receivables	(20,215)	(14,518)	(12,711)
Effect of preneed funeral production and maturities:
Increase in preneed receivables, net and trust investments	(308,061)	(158,797)	(16,144)
Increase in deferred revenue, net	(119,730)	(61,807)	(67,792)
Increase (decrease) in deferred receipts held in trust	(43,451)	(2,390)	42,306
Net cash provided by operating activities	920,608	804,351	628,755
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(303,660)	(222,211)	(239,957)
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired	121,382	(64,164)	(55,644)
Payments for (Proceeds from) Deposits on Real Estate Acquisitions	(26,604)	(52,079)	(51,373)
Proceeds from divestitures and sales of property and equipment	40,696	21,916	77,074
Payment to Acquire Life Insurance Policy, Investing Activities	(3,982)	(5,352)	(9,026)
Proceeds from Life Insurance Policy	0	3,519	415
Net cash used in investing activities	(414,932)	(318,371)	(278,511)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	975,000	1,585,000	1,149,263
Debt issuance costs	(13,640)	(14,503)	(15,539)
Scheduled payments of debt	(36,158)	(34,489)	(25,471)
Repayments of Other Long-term Debt	(699,837)	(1,371,856)	(1,164,978)
Finance Lease, Principal Payments	34,617	43,598	42,627
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	39,354	26,671	40,922
Purchase of Company common stock	(554,313)	(516,870)	(129,589)
Payments of dividends	(146,919)	(137,392)	(131,402)
Bank overdrafts and other	5,510	14,259	328
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(465,620)	(492,778)	(319,093)
Effect of foreign currency	(111)	2,788	3,885
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash	39,945	(4,010)	35,036
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents	$ 278,555	$ 238,610	$ 242,620