Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net income	$ 537,661	$ 566,034	$ 803,252
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Losses on early extinguishment of debt, net	1,114	1,225	5,226
Depreciation and amortization	191,272	175,330	159,306
Amortization of intangibles	18,736	18,355	20,002
Amortization of cemetery property	101,234	94,123	98,162
Amortization of loan costs	6,871	6,851	6,367
Provision for expected credit losses	11,245	16,700	11,362
Provision for (benefit from) deferred income taxes	191,516	3,471	(5,837)
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets	(9,816)	(9,962)	(25,169)
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Investments	0	1,169	0
Share-based compensation	15,423	14,709	14,168
Change in assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions and divestitures:
Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets	(131,581)	(8,206)	(54,883)
Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Liabilities	(9,676)	37,029	53,747
Increase (Decrease) in Accounts and Other Receivables	(3,810)	4,151	(20,215)
Effect of preneed funeral production and maturities:
Increase in preneed receivables, net and trust investments	(178,642)	(309,055)	(308,061)
Increase in deferred revenue, net	157,656	195,358	119,730
Increase in deferred receipts held in trust	(30,160)	20,781	43,451
Net cash provided by operating activities	869,043	825,725	920,608
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(361,793)	(369,709)	(303,660)
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired	(72,535)	(102,558)	(121,382)
Payments for (Proceeds from) Deposits on Real Estate Acquisitions	(56,409)	(17,127)	(26,604)
Proceeds from divestitures and sales of property and equipment	25,888	42,093	40,696
Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities	(6,598)	1,330	0
Payment to Acquire Life Insurance Policy, Investing Activities	(8,058)	(1,910)	(3,982)
Proceeds from Life Insurance Policy	10,119	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(469,386)	(447,881)	(414,932)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	957,433	484,000	975,000
Debt issuance costs	(7,471)	(525)	(13,640)
Scheduled payments of debt	(22,230)	(36,288)	(36,158)
Repayments of Other Long-term Debt	(580,973)	(65,591)	(699,837)
Finance Lease, Principal Payments	34,482	35,542	34,617
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	24,181	27,814	39,354
Purchase of Company common stock	(544,844)	(660,850)	(554,313)
Payments of dividends	(167,983)	(160,035)	(146,919)
Bank overdrafts and other	(4,773)	(980)	5,510
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(381,142)	(447,997)	(465,620)
Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash, and Restricted Cash Equivalents, Continuing Operations	1,722	(3,878)	(111)
Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash	20,237	(74,031)	39,945
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents	$ 224,761	$ 204,524	$ 278,555