diff --git a/moto/swf/models/workflow_execution.py b/moto/swf/models/workflow_execution.py
index 10ff48db..0f619dca 100644
--- a/moto/swf/models/workflow_execution.py
+++ b/moto/swf/models/workflow_execution.py
@@ -154,8 +154,8 @@ class WorkflowExecution(object):
         # workflow execution timeout
         _timeout = self.first_timeout()
         if _timeout:
-            self.execute_timeout(_timeout)
-            # TODO: process child policy on child workflows here or in process_timeouts()
+            self.timeout(_timeout)
+            # TODO: process child policy on child workflows here or in timeout()
             self._add_event(
                 "WorkflowExecutionTimedOut",
                 child_policy=self.child_policy,
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ class WorkflowExecution(object):
             _timeout = task.first_timeout()
             if task.state == "STARTED" and _timeout:
                 self.should_schedule_decision_next = True
-                task.process_timeouts()
+                task.timeout(_timeout)
                 self._add_event(
                     "DecisionTaskTimedOut",
                     event_timestamp=_timeout.timestamp,
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ class WorkflowExecution(object):
             _timeout = task.first_timeout()
             if task.open and _timeout:
                 self.should_schedule_decision_next = True
-                task.process_timeouts()
+                task.timeout(_timeout)
                 self._add_event(
                     "ActivityTaskTimedOut",
                     details=task.details,
@@ -538,16 +538,11 @@ class WorkflowExecution(object):
         if _timeout.reached:
             return _timeout
 
-    def execute_timeout(self, timeout):
+    def timeout(self, timeout):
         self.execution_status = "CLOSED"
         self.close_status = "TIMED_OUT"
         self.timeout_type = timeout.kind
 
-    def process_timeouts(self):
-        _timeout = self.first_timeout()
-        if _timeout:
-            self.execute_timeout(_timeout)
-
     @property
     def open(self):
         return self.execution_status == "OPEN"
diff --git a/tests/test_swf/models/test_activity_task.py b/tests/test_swf/models/test_activity_task.py
index ef4823cc..4dbb3cc1 100644
--- a/tests/test_swf/models/test_activity_task.py
+++ b/tests/test_swf/models/test_activity_task.py
@@ -8,7 +8,11 @@ from moto.swf.models import (
     Timeout,
 )
 
-from ..utils import make_workflow_execution, ACTIVITY_TASK_TIMEOUTS
+from ..utils import (
+    ACTIVITY_TASK_TIMEOUTS,
+    make_workflow_execution,
+    process_first_timeout,
+)
 
 
 def test_activity_task_creation():
@@ -101,7 +105,7 @@ def test_activity_task_first_timeout():
     # activity task timeout is 300s == 5mins
     with freeze_time("2015-01-01 12:06:00"):
         task.first_timeout().should.be.a(Timeout)
-        task.process_timeouts()
+        process_first_timeout(task)
         task.state.should.equal("TIMED_OUT")
         task.timeout_type.should.equal("HEARTBEAT")
 
@@ -123,7 +127,7 @@ def test_activity_task_cannot_timeout_on_closed_workflow_execution():
     with freeze_time("2015-01-01 14:10:00"):
         task.first_timeout().should.be.a(Timeout)
         wfe.first_timeout().should.be.a(Timeout)
-        wfe.process_timeouts()
+        process_first_timeout(wfe)
         task.first_timeout().should.be.none
 
 def test_activity_task_cannot_change_state_on_closed_workflow_execution():
diff --git a/tests/test_swf/models/test_decision_task.py b/tests/test_swf/models/test_decision_task.py
index f85b83eb..2c4439dd 100644
--- a/tests/test_swf/models/test_decision_task.py
+++ b/tests/test_swf/models/test_decision_task.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ from sure import expect
 from moto.swf.exceptions import SWFWorkflowExecutionClosedError
 from moto.swf.models import DecisionTask, Timeout
 
-from ..utils import make_workflow_execution
+from ..utils import make_workflow_execution, process_first_timeout
 
 
 def test_decision_task_creation():
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ def test_decision_task_cannot_timeout_on_closed_workflow_execution():
     with freeze_time("2015-01-01 14:10:00"):
         dt.first_timeout().should.be.a(Timeout)
         wfe.first_timeout().should.be.a(Timeout)
-        wfe.process_timeouts()
+        process_first_timeout(wfe)
         dt.first_timeout().should.be.none
 
 def test_decision_task_cannot_change_state_on_closed_workflow_execution():
diff --git a/tests/test_swf/utils.py b/tests/test_swf/utils.py
index 7e7ecc1f..d98294ea 100644
--- a/tests/test_swf/utils.py
+++ b/tests/test_swf/utils.py
@@ -82,3 +82,10 @@ def setup_workflow():
     wfe = conn.start_workflow_execution("test-domain", "uid-abcd1234", "test-workflow", "v1.0")
     conn.run_id = wfe["runId"]
     return conn
+
+
+# A helper for processing the first timeout on a given object
+def process_first_timeout(obj):
+    _timeout = obj.first_timeout()
+    if _timeout:
+        obj.timeout(_timeout)