Exhibit 99.1

         Service Corporation International Elects Two New Board Members


    HOUSTON, May 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Service Corporation
International (NYSE: SRV), the world's largest funeral and cemetery company,
announced today the election of two new members to its Board of Directors, Dr.
S. Malcolm Gillis and Mr. Thomas L. Ryan.  Following their election, the
Company's Board of Directors consists of fourteen members, of which ten are
independent.

    Dr. Malcolm Gillis is the President of Rice University, a position he has
held since 1993.  He is an internationally respected academician and widely
published author in the field of economics with significant experience in
fiscal reform and environmental policy.  Dr. Gillis has held professorships at
Harvard University and Duke University, and has served as a consultant to
numerous U.S. agencies and foreign governments.

    Mr. Thomas Ryan is the current President and Chief Operating Officer of
Service Corporation International.  He joined the Company in June 1996 and
subsequently served in a variety of financial management roles until
November 2000, when he was promoted to Chief Executive Officer of European
Operations based in Paris, France.  In July 2002, Mr. Ryan was appointed to
his current role of President and Chief Operating Officer.

    "We welcome our newly elected members to the Board and look forward to
their positive contributions to our Company," said Service Corporation
International Chairman and CEO, Robert L. Waltrip.

    Service Corporation International headquartered in Houston, Texas is the
world's largest funeral and cemetery company.  We have an extensive network of
providers including 1,218 funeral service locations, 402 cemeteries and
141 crematoria providing funeral and cemetery services in North America as of
March 31, 2004.  We also own funeral and cemetery businesses in South America,
Singapore and Germany.  For more information about Service Corporation
International, please visit our website at www.sci-corp.com .


     For additional information contact:

     Investors:  Debbie Young - Director of Investor Relations
                (713) 525-9088

     Media:      Terry Hemeyer - Managing Director / Corporate Communications
                (713) 525-5497


SOURCE  Service Corporation International
    -0-                             05/13/2004
    /CONTACT:  investors, Debbie Young, Director of Investor Relations,
+1-713-525-9088, or media, Terry Hemeyer, Managing Director-Corporate
Communications, +1-713-525-5497, both of Service Corporation International/
    /Web site:  http://www.sci-corp.com /
    (SRV)

CO:  Service Corporation International
ST:  Texas
IN:
SU:  PER