Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2025	Dec. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net income	$ 542,845	$ 518,753	$ 537,661
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Loss on early extinguishment of debt, net	523	25	1,114
Depreciation and amortization	219,654	208,211	191,272
Amortization of intangibles	16,370	17,222	18,736
Amortization of cemetery property	104,262	102,510	101,234
Amortization of loan costs	8,823	7,527	6,871
Provision for expected credit losses	8,894	11,542	11,245
Provision for deferred income taxes	41,017	7,541	191,516
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets	(6,151)	12,488	(9,816)
Share-based compensation	17,633	18,783	17,043
Change in assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions and divestitures:
Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets	(31,727)	65,043	(131,581)
Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Liabilities	12,434	21,100	(11,296)
Increase (Decrease) in Accounts and Other Receivables	(9,723)	(1,481)	(3,810)
Effect of preneed funeral production and maturities:
Increase in preneed receivables, net and trust investments	(49,351)	(134,986)	(178,642)
Increase in deferred revenue, net	30,220	59,189	157,656
Increase (decrease) in deferred receipts held in trust	37,075	31,445	(30,160)
Net cash provided by operating activities	942,798	944,912	869,043
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(388,553)	(373,659)	(361,793)
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired	(101,291)	(181,210)	(72,535)
Payments for (Proceeds from) Deposits on Real Estate Acquisitions	(18,504)	(62,061)	(56,409)
Proceeds from divestitures and sales of property and equipment	30,405	24,403	25,888
Payment for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activity	(11,647)	(13,864)	(6,598)
Payment to Acquire Life Insurance Policy, Investing Activities	(229)	(3,024)	(8,058)
Proceeds from Life Insurance Policy	11,433	3,914	10,119
Net cash used in investing activities	(548,284)	(620,949)	(469,386)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	1,060,890	1,451,137	957,433
Debt issuance costs	(5,424)	(15,390)	(7,471)
Scheduled payments of debt	(21,233)	(24,447)	(22,230)
Early Repayment of Senior Debt	804,600	1,315,524	580,973
Finance Lease, Principal Payments	38,321	36,840	34,482
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	29,401	56,683	24,181
Proceeds from (Repayments of) Other Debt	54,766	0	0
Purchase of Company common stock	(461,015)	(253,733)	(544,844)
Payments of dividends	(183,571)	(174,282)	(167,983)
Proceeds from (Repayments of) Bank Overdrafts	(5,619)	(7,245)	(4,773)
Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activity, Including Discontinued Operation	(374,726)	(319,641)	(381,142)
Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash, Cash Equivalent, Restricted Cash, and Restricted Cash Equivalent, Continuing Operation	5,281	(7,684)	1,722
Cash, Cash Equivalent, Restricted Cash, and Restricted Cash Equivalent, Period Increase (Decrease), Including Exchange Rate Effect, Discontinued Operation	(25,069)	(3,362)	(20,237)
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents	246,468	221,399	224,761
Payments to Acquire Buildings	$ (69,898)	$ (15,448)	$ 0