Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net income	$ 566,034	$ 803,252	$ 516,137
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Losses on early extinguishment of debt, net	1,225	5,226	18,428
Depreciation and amortization	175,330	159,306	155,299
Amortization of intangibles	18,355	20,002	22,444
Amortization of cemetery property	94,123	98,162	80,403
Amortization of loan costs	6,851	6,367	5,483
Provision for expected credit losses	16,700	11,362	13,558
Provision for (benefit from) deferred income taxes	3,471	(5,837)	7,884
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets	(9,962)	(25,169)	(7,009)
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Investments	(1,169)	0	0
Share-based compensation	14,709	14,168	14,103
Change in assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions and divestitures:
Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets	(8,206)	(54,883)	(35,739)
Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Liabilities	37,029	53,747	122,478
Increase (Decrease) in Accounts and Other Receivables	4,151	(20,215)	(14,518)
Effect of preneed funeral production and maturities:
Increase in preneed receivables, net and trust investments	(309,055)	(308,061)	(158,797)
Increase in deferred revenue, net	195,358	119,730	61,807
Increase in deferred receipts held in trust	20,781	43,451	2,390
Net cash provided by operating activities	825,725	920,608	804,351
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(369,709)	(303,660)	(222,211)
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired	(102,558)	(121,382)	(64,164)
Payments for (Proceeds from) Deposits on Real Estate Acquisitions	(17,127)	(26,604)	(52,079)
Proceeds from divestitures and sales of property and equipment	42,093	40,696	21,916
Proceeds from Sale, Maturity and Collection of Investments	1,330	0	0
Payment to Acquire Life Insurance Policy, Investing Activities	(1,910)	(3,982)	(5,352)
Proceeds from Life Insurance Policy	0	0	3,519
Net cash used in investing activities	(447,881)	(414,932)	(318,371)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	484,000	975,000	1,585,000
Debt issuance costs	(525)	(13,640)	(14,503)
Scheduled payments of debt	(36,288)	(36,158)	(34,489)
Repayments of Other Long-term Debt	(65,591)	(699,837)	(1,371,856)
Finance Lease, Principal Payments	35,542	34,617	43,598
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	27,814	39,354	26,671
Purchase of Company common stock	(660,850)	(554,313)	(516,870)
Payments of dividends	(160,035)	(146,919)	(137,392)
Bank overdrafts and other	(980)	5,510	14,259
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(447,997)	(465,620)	(492,778)
Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash, and Restricted Cash Equivalents, Continuing Operations	(3,878)	(111)	2,788
Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash	(74,031)	39,945	(4,010)
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents	204,524	278,555	238,610
Proceeds from Sale, Maturity and Collection of Investments	$ 1,330	$ 0	$ 0