Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net income	$ 352,713	$ 386,744
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Losses on early extinguishment of debt, net	1,225	5,226
Depreciation and amortization	86,234	79,552
Amortization of intangibles	9,478	10,127
Amortization of cemetery property	47,327	52,362
Amortization of loan costs	3,526	3,118
Provision for expected credit losses	6,756	6,389
(Benefit from) provision for deferred income taxes	(3,723)	1,986
Share-based compensation	7,400	7,096
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets	(783)	(7,428)
Gain on Sale of Investments	(1,169)	0
Change in assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions and divestitures:
Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Receivable	11,878	(1,002)
Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets	1,680	(31,340)
Increase (Decrease) in Operating Liabilities	8,582	(56,891)
Effect of preneed funeral production and maturities:
Increase in preneed receivables, net and trust investments	(178,619)	(160,465)
Increase in deferred revenue, net	123,450	66,107
Increase in deferred receipts held in trust	14,094	14,401
Net cash provided by operating activities	472,885	489,764
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(152,445)	(103,161)
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired	(2,000)	(3,591)
Payments for (Proceeds from) Deposits on Real Estate Acquisitions	(3,912)	(10,498)
Proceeds from divestitures and sales of property and equipment	6,968	12,232
Proceeds from Limited Partnership Investments	1,169	0
Payment to Acquire Life Insurance Policy, Investing Activities	(1,690)	(3,534)
Net cash used in investing activities	(151,910)	(108,552)
Cash flows from financing activities
Payments of Debt Issuance Costs	0	13,618
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	143,000	820,000
Early payments and extinguishment of debt	(65,591)	(699,837)
Finance Lease, Principal Payments	17,920	16,091
Repayments of Unsecured Debt	(18,142)	(18,070)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	16,197	16,254
Purchase of Company common stock	(360,114)	(187,183)
Payments of dividends	(79,627)	(70,920)
Bank overdrafts and other	(5,759)	(7,030)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(387,956)	(176,495)
Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash, and Restricted Cash Equivalents, Continuing Operations	(1,897)	3,311
Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash	(68,878)	208,028
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents	$ 209,677	$ 446,638