Preneed Activities Preneed Activities Deferred Preneed Revenues (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Deferred Preneed Revenues [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance — Deferred preneed funeral revenues, net		$ 1,789,776	$ 1,731,417
Deferred revenue and deferred receipts held in trust	$ 5,306,479	4,790,552	5,265,206
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Cumulative Effect of Change on Equity or Net Assets	0	37,991
Net preneed contract sales	984,575	977,378	900,037
Acquisitions (dispositions) of businesses, net	(12,741)	159,560	10,488
Net investment (losses) earnings	484,577	(195,051)	381,436
Recognized deferred preneed revenues			(876,857)
Change in amounts due for unfulfilled performance obligations	(10,223)	(546,554)	0
Recognized Revenue From Backlog	(368,908)	(381,041)
Recognized Revenue From Current Period	(573,804)	(572,428)
Change in cancellation allowance	1,066	65,817	(165)
Change in deferred preneed funeral receipts held in trust			(361,499)
Effect of foreign currency and other	$ 11,385	$ (20,326)	4,919
Ending balance — Deferred preneed funeral revenues, net			$ 1,789,776