Preneed Activities Long-term Receivable and Investment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Long-term receivable and investment components [Line Items]
Receivables from customers	$ 1,431,712	$ 1,351,148
Unearned finance charges	(45,751)	(45,989)
Allowance for cancellation	(108,635)	(104,740)
Preneed Receivables	1,277,326	1,200,419
Trust investments, at market	4,343,081	3,936,908
Cash Held In Trust	282,594	304,055
Assets associated with businesses held for sale	(2,680)	0
Insurance-backed fixed income securities	267,465	271,248
Trust investments	4,890,460	4,512,211
Cemetery perpetual care trust investments	(1,490,201)	(1,407,465)
Preneed trust investments	3,400,259	3,104,746
Preneed receivables, net and trust investments, excluding allowance for cancellation	4,677,585	4,305,165
Funeral
Long-term receivable and investment components [Line Items]
Receivables from customers	331,917	312,556
Cemetery
Long-term receivable and investment components [Line Items]
Receivables from customers	$ 1,099,795	$ 1,038,592

Trust investments in cash.

No definition available.

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- Definition

The aggregate fair value as of the balance sheet date of financial instruments and other positions may include: (1) mortgages, mortgage-backed and asset backed securities; (2) US government and agency obligations; (3) state and municipal government obligations; (4) other sovereign government debt; (5) corporate obligations; (6) corporate equities; (7) principal investments; (8) derivative contracts; and (9) physical commodities. Includes both pledged and unpledged holdings.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Line items represent the components of long-term receivables and investments, including trust investments, at market; cash and cash equivalents held by the trust; insurance policies held by the trust; and gross carrying value of long-term receivables from customers and unearned finance charges and cancellation allowance related to those receivables.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

An amount representing an agreement for an unconditional promise by the maker to pay the Entity (holder) a definite sum of money at a future date, net of any write-downs taken for collection uncertainty on the part of the holder. Such amount may include accrued interest receivable in accordance with the terms of the contract.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

An amount representing an agreement for an unconditional promise by the maker to pay the Entity (holder) a definite sum of money at a future date. Such amount may include accrued interest receivable in accordance with the terms of the contract. The aggregate fair value as of the balance sheet date of financial instruments and other positions may include: (1) mortgages, mortgage-backed and asset backed securities; (2) US government and agency obligations; (3) state and municipal government obligations; (4) other sovereign government debt; (5) corporate obligations; (6) corporate equities; (7) principal investments; (8) derivative contracts; (9) physical commodities; and (10) cash. Includes both pledged and unpledged holdings.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Reclass Assets Held For Sale

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amounts due from customers or clients, more than one year from the balance sheet date, for goods or services that have been delivered or sold in the normal course of business.

+ References

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- Definition

A valuation allowance for receivables due to an Entity for more than one year from the balance sheet date that are expected to be uncollectible.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(17))
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84173941&loc=d3e5074-111524

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- Definition

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of amounts which could be received based on the terms of the insurance contract upon surrendering life policies owned by the entity.

+ References

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- Definition

Unearned discounts (other than cash or quantity discounts and the like), finance charges, and interest included in the face amount of receivables, that are shown as a deduction from the related receivables. For example, 1) finance charges booked as a receivable when a loan is made and recognized as income at a later date; and 2) interest charges deducted from the face loan amount, resulting in a discounted amount actually advanced to the borrower (wherein the receivable includes the amount actually advanced to the borrower and the as yet unearned interest income).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82891408&loc=d3e4519-111522

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- Definition

Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all investments.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.1(h))
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- Definition

This item represents the reported amount of the entity's investments measured at fair value. Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an investment in an orderly transaction between market participants at the balance sheet [measurement] date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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