Preneed Cemetery Activities Investment Related Activities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Investment related activities [Line Items]
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	$ 28,015	$ 46,390	$ 39,897	$ 93,068
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	(14,428)	(6,818)	(26,321)	(10,928)
Cemetery
Investment related activities [Line Items]
Deposits	41,093	33,132	76,254	61,403
Withdrawals	51,444	28,221	82,670	62,569
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	117,257	111,565	224,194	210,323
Sales of available-for-sale securities	139,681	103,530	238,943	195,847
Realized gains from sales of available-for-sale securities	16,406	20,655	23,541	46,187
Realized losses from sales of available-for-sale securities	$ (6,398)	$ (3,826)	$ (13,427)	$ (6,125)