Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2024	Jun. 30, 2023
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net income	$ 249,494	$ 277,181
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	0	1,114
Depreciation and amortization	101,856	92,758
Amortization of intangibles	8,627	9,356
Amortization of cemetery property	46,336	48,036
Amortization of loan costs	3,519	3,408
Provision for expected credit losses	7,644	3,389
Provision for deferred income taxes	7,553	8,410
Share-based compensation	7,966	8,149
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets	(1,240)	(7,645)
Change in assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions and divestitures:
Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Receivable	7,296	11,112
Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets	15,969	(36,303)
Increase (Decrease) in Operating Liabilities	(15,484)	(31,266)
Effect of preneed funeral production and maturities:
Increase in preneed receivables, net and trust investments	(124,609)	(114,106)
Increase in deferred revenue, net	53,342	82,457
Increase in deferred receipts held in trust	48,731	7,593
Net cash provided by operating activities	417,000	363,643
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(175,878)	(177,007)
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired	(38,490)	(39,424)
Payments for (Proceeds from) Deposits on Real Estate Acquisitions	(22,151)	(17,434)
Proceeds from divestitures and sales of property and equipment	11,339	20,547
Payment to Acquire Life Insurance Policy, Investing Activities	(2,831)	(7,898)
Proceeds from Life Insurance Policy	2,000	10,119
Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities	(9,814)	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(235,825)	(211,097)
Cash flows from financing activities
Payments of Debt Issuance Costs	0	7,471
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	296,137	573,433
Early payments and extinguishment of debt	(225,000)	(385,973)
Finance Lease, Principal Payments	18,213	17,126
Repayments of Unsecured Debt	(11,665)	(10,573)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	17,859	14,564
Purchase of Company common stock	(176,417)	(252,116)
Payments of dividends	(87,328)	(81,987)
Bank overdrafts and other	(10,536)	(14,350)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(215,163)	(181,599)
Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash, and Restricted Cash Equivalents, Continuing Operations	(2,665)	1,330
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash	(36,653)	(27,723)
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents	$ 188,108	$ 176,801